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)