Armed men stage midday robbery

JAKARTA (JP): A gang of at least four armed men robbed a gold shop at a market in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, yesterday and made off with two kilograms of jewelry worth Rp 50 million (US$10,000).

A police source said the robbers, who had watched London Shop on Jl. Rawasari since the early morning from a stall nearby, entered the shop about midday when they thought the coast was clear.

One of the robbers fired his gun into the air three times when the goldsmith seemed slow to meet their demands, the officer, who did not want to be identified, said.

"The robber smashed open a drawer with his gun and the others grabbed the jewelry. It all happened in about 20 minutes."

The men then fled on two Yamaha RX-King motorcycles, he said.

Three people, including the goldsmith, had been questioned but police still had no leads for the midday robbery, he said. (jun)