Bank robbers get away with Rp 159m

TANGERANG: A gang of four thieves in a blue Kijang minivan managed to steal a safe containing Rp 159 million in cash from Windu Kencana Bank, Jl. Merdeka 207, on Sunday morning in Tangerang municipality.

The arrival of the four thieves was witnessed by Nana Supratna, preparing his cigarette pushcart for business near the bank, but he was not suspicious of the four men at the time.

"Three of the men came to me and asked for my help to lift the safe from the bank, but as I was busy setting up my cigarette pushcart, I declined," Nana told The Jakarta Post on Monday morning.

He said that when he saw the men forcing the lock on the bank door, he became suspicious and tried to find the police officer usually on duty at the Jl. Imam Bonjol/Jl Gatot Subroto intersection.

"It was 6 a.m. and I couldn't find an officer at the intersection," he said, adding that when he had returned, the thieves had gone.

A few minutes later, deputy manager of the branch Sugito arrived with several members of staff; they were surprised at seeing the lock on the bank had been forced and the safe missing. They reported the theft to Tangerang Police.--JP