Australian robbed in S. Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): A 61-year-old Australian fell victim to a street crime in broad daylight when fixing a flat tire in a workshop on Jl. Adityawarman in South Jakarta on Sunday, a police officer said.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Monday that three robbers managed to make away with Rp 400,000 (US$42) in cash and a mobile phone from the victim, identified as Leonard John Wilde, a resident of Jl. Joko Sutono in Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta.

The incident occurred at around 2 p.m., Lubis said.

"The victim told the police that when driving along the street, one of his car tires went flat and he drove on to a nearby workshop," he said.

As Wilde was waiting for his car to be repaired, three men approached and encircled him, one of them pulling out a knife and demanding he give up his valuables, Lubis said.

Before Wilde could hand over anything, one of the three snatched his wallet and mobile phone from his hand, the spokesman said.

It was suspected that the three had set traps for their victims by putting nails on the road. As soon as their victims get to the workshop to repair their tires, they are targeted.

Many were believed to have fallen victims to a similar modus operandi but only a handful of them ever reported to the police.

Lubis urged motorists to drive on until they reach a busy area if they felt that something had gone wrong with their car tires. "Don't stop your car in quiet places," he said. (emf)