Another woman robbed inside taxi

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Another robbery inside a taxi occurred on Friday evening when Susan Bayu Aji, 32, was forced to give her valuables and cash to an MM taxi driver and his two accomplices.

Susan's ring, necklace and bracelet, along with a cellular phone and money, were taken by the three men before they made her get out in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.

"We are investigating the case. The victim said that it was an MM taxi and its door number is 114. We have arrested the driver, but the victim does not recognize him," general crime chief Sr. Comr. Suhardi Alius told The Jakarta Post.

Susan took the MM taxi from the Senayan area in Central Jakarta, intending to go to her house in Gambir, Central Jakarta at around 10 p.m.

"MM taxi with license plate number B 1640 QB appeared and Susan took it," Suhardi said.

When the taxi arrived at Jl. Abdul Muis in Central Jakarta, the driver stopped the car.

Pretending that he had to clean the car's front window, the driver got out of the car.

Susan protested, saying that she was in a hurry, and the cleaning should be done when the taxi was empty.

Suddenly, two men got inside the taxi, threatening her before taking all of her belongings.

"All of her jewelry, cell phone and cash of Rp 750,000 were taken. Susan was driven around for some two hours before being dumped in Lebak Bulus. She was given Rp 100,000 to enable her to go home," Suhardi said.

Susan and her husband then reported the case to the Jakarta Police right after she arrived home.

Police quickly arrested AN Imron, the driver of the taxi with door number 114, in Cibubur, East Jakarta.

"When we took him to be identified, the victim didn't recognize him. So, it is possible that the taxi was faked by a robbery syndicate," Suhardi said.

Earlier, Ellaide Rumiaty Tampubolon was robbed inside a taxi that looked like a Blue Bird taxi, but when the Blue Bird driver was presented to Ellaide, she also did not recognize him.

"The modus operandi is that robbery syndicates are imitating taxis, especially well-known taxis, to be able to deceive and rob passengers. We will try to arrest all syndicate members as soon as possible," Suhardi promised.

He called on taxi companies to adequately screen drivers to prevent those that readily accept undercover robbers as drivers.

"Taxi companies should start taking precautionary measures to prevent their taxis from being used by thieves. People, especially women, have to be more careful when taking a taxi. They should really examine the taxi before taking it," Suhardi said.