Bogor Police nab five police impersonators

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)