Alleged car thief shot dead by police in Tangerang

Alleged car thief shot dead by police in Tangerang

JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives shot dead yesterday a man
wanted for a series of vehicle thefts in a pre-dawn shoot-out in
Karawaci, Tangerang, about 30 kilometers west of here.

The long-wanted suspect, identified as Harno Ragil, was shot
after eight detectives from a Jakarta mobile regiment cornered
his Kijang minivan.

"The officers seized an FN .45-millimeter caliber handgun with
four bullets remaining in the gun, which he used to fire on the
detectives while resisting arrest," City Police Spokesman Lt.
Col. Iman Haryatna said.

"The suspect took his last breath prior to arriving at a
nearby hospital," said Iman.

Iman is scheduled to be installed next week as Tangerang's new
police chief.

Harno, also known as Iwan or Yanto in vehicle theft rings, was
a former serviceman reportedly fired for attitude problems. He
had been arrested at least seven times by police in Jakarta and
Semarang, Central Java, since 1987.

"We're now tracing the whereabouts of his people and at least
two other syndicates specializing in vehicle theft," said the
officer.

In his operations, Harno always wore police or military
uniforms and carried guns, walkie-talkies and other effects.

"Harno would stop a car, point his gun at the driver and then
drive off in the vehicle," Iman said.

He would then change the vehicle documents before offering the
stolen vehicles for cheap.

After a series of investigations, detectives from Jakarta were
informed about the Harno's hiding place somewhere in Tangerang.
Iman refused to give further details.

A group of eight detectives in two cars then prepared for his
arrest.

"Harno refused to stop when he was ordered to do so," Iman
said. "The suspect then fired at the detectives, took a sudden U-
turn and rushed away."

A number of shots were fired by both parties until the
detectives were able to block his car and paralyze the suspect,
Iman said. No officers were injured in the crossfire.

"We actually didn't want to see him dead because we needed
more information from him about his people and the vehicle theft
rings," Iman said. (bsr)