Burglars shot dead in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: Three burglars were killed and another two were severely injured in two separate shooting incidents with police here over the weekend.

The burglars, known to be part of a gang that specializes in stealing safety deposit boxes, were believed to be responsible for dozens of burglaries in Sumatra, Java, and Bali.

Denpasar Police chief Sr. Cmr. DBM Suharya confirmed the incident and added that the gang had been on the police's wanted list for some time.

Those shot dead were identified as Andi Agus Kurniawan, M Rusli, and Muchlis Tanjung. The two injured were Supratmanto and Edy John.

The first shooting took place early on Friday when robbers broke into a shop on Jl. Sriwijaya in Kuta.

Police were tipped off about the break-in and confronted them as they were leaving the shop.

The robbers, however, managed to flee from the scene in their minivan but their accomplice Andi Kurniawan was shot dead.

Police then hunted down the fleeing burglars and received information several hours later that they had taken a ferry to Jember in East Java.

Local police were then dispatched.

In another gunfight in Jember, police shot dead two others and injured Edy John. (zen)