Bogor Police nab five police impersonators

BOGOR (JP): Police arrested five members of a notorious gang of vehicle thieves who wore police uniforms during their robberies, an officer said on Wednesday.

Bogor Police chief Lt. Col. Ade Husen said in two separate arrests on Monday and Tuesday, his men also seized a Honda Grand Astrea motorcycle, two Kijang vans and a police uniform bearing the name (first class Sgt.) Hasanuddin of the Depok Police from the suspects.

"Members of the gang have been in and out of prisons in Bogor and Jakarta," Ade said.

He identified the five suspects as Ade Dwi Saputra, alias Dede, 25; Abdul Somad, alias Obay bin Samin, 27; Muhammad Sahrul, 26; Bambang Sujoko bin Soleman, 47; and Saeful bin Asep, 35.

Three people who fenced vehicles stolen by the thieves and two members of the gang are still at large, Ade said.

Bambang and Saeful, who were arrested on Tuesday, also acted as fences for the gang, the officer said.

"We are now tracking down the other two gang members, Safei and Andi, and three fences: Gepeng, alias Koki, Dodi and a member of the military from the Siliwangi District Command," Ade said.

The arrests were made after locals alerted police to a group of men attired in police uniforms who were often seen stopping vehicles in Bogor.

"The group, consisting of between two to four men, were usually seen wearing uniforms that looked as if they were from the Depok Police and stopping vehicles as if they were real cops.

"They apparently stole the victims' vehicles during such operations and sold them to fences," Ade said.

Police spotted members of the gang on Jl. AURI in Cimanggis on Monday and arrested them on the spot.

"They resisted arrest and three of them were shot in the legs as they tried to flee the scene, while one man got away," Bogor Police chief of detectives Capt. Santun Marpaung said.

The gang admitted it had operated in the area since September, the officer said.

"They committed at least 10 robberies in Bogor. Within three months they managed to steal five motorcycles and six Kijang vans," Santun said.

All of the stolen vehicles were sold through fences in Bogor and Tangerang, he added. (21/edt)