Armed robbery spree hits capital

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police recorded three separate armed robberies within the last two days, spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Wednesday.

The suspects were not apprehended at the scenes and remain at large.

Officer Lubis urged Jakartans to remain on alert as the criminals had sharp weapons and cars at their disposal.

He added that the robberies were all noteworthy for the speed of the operation.

The latest incident occurred in East Jakarta, early Wednesday, when a group of six armed men broke into the house of Sarah Liza Adnan, 29, on Jl. Raya Pedati.

The thieves allegedly broke into the house by forcing the front door at around 1:30 a.m.

Noise emanating from the front of the house woke Sarah, who subsequently was threatened with sharp weapons by the suspects.

The criminals stole 12 grams of gold jewelry, a 21-inch television set and two wristwatches. They left the scene by car.

About 8 a.m. on Tuesday, a gang of eight thieves robbed a construction material store in Serua, Ciputat, South Jakarta.

According to Lubis, the men entered the store -- staffed by owner Hermanto and employee, Edi -- separately and pretended to be customers.

One of the suspects requested Edi select a can of paint for him. The same man then withdrew a sharp weapon from his jacket and proceeded to threaten the sales assistant. The men then tied up Hermanto and Edi.

The criminals escaped in a Kijang van with cans of paint, nails, glass panes, 35 grams of gold jewelry and Rp 800.000.

Four hours later in Bekasi on the outskirts of Jakarta, five men held up a doctor's surgery, staffed by Dr. Halim, 50 and his assistant Santi Teja.

According to Santi, the five men got out of a green Kijang van at approximately midday with one of them appearing to be in pain.

The men asked Santi whether they would have to wait to see the doctor.

"The doctor's assistant told the men that they could immediately be seen as the doctor was alone in his room," Lubis said.

Three of the men entered his room, while their two accomplices remained outside.

The suspects then threatened the doctor with a sharp weapon and forced him from the room.

They demanded Santi remove her jewelry and hand over her purse.

The thieves stole Rp 100,000, an Ericsson cellular phone, a Kodak pocket camera and 69 grams of gold jewelry.

"All three cases remain under investigation," Lubis said. (emf)