Australian robbed in S. Jakarta

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)