What the gang lacks in youthful vigour it more than makes up for in military-style planning and firepower when carrying out its specialty - robbing Malaysia's goldsmiths.
Police are stumped by the emergence of what the media has dubbed the 'M-16 gang' - a group of middle-aged Chinese men armed with automatic rifles who only target goldsmiths.
The gang members wear balaclavas, love to fire rifles and even lob hand grenades. They prefer sledgehammers to break glass showcases and Hondas are their escape car of choice.
Ironically for a Malaysian 'enterprise', the gang leader is believed to be a Singaporean, who before his mysterious disappearance, owned a goldsmith shop and moved in political circles as a fund-raiser and philanthropist.
Police estimate the gang has stolen M$30 million (HK$61.5 million) worth of gold and jewellery since its first hit on a pawnshop in January 2000. The gang has allegedly notched up 19 robberies.
Police thought the M-16 gang was broken after shooting dead three men in December, including the alleged gang leader.