Bus terminal thieves nabbed

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested eight men suspected of operating as a group of pickpockets in the capital's biggest intercity bus terminal of Pulogadung in East Jakarta.

Police identified the detained gang members as parking attendant Dapis Sebayang, 34, bus driver Nanang, 29, street vendor Sahrudin Siregar, 24, newspaper seller Edwin, 18, bus co- driver Agus Aban, 37, and three unemployed men aged between 19 and 28: Heru Purwanto, Asmadi and Hamami.

The Sunday raid was carried out by plainclothes detectives following repeated complaints from commuters.

"The suspects have already confessed to having committed pickpocket crimes at the terminal. They said late Saturdays were their favorite time," City police detective officer Maj. M. Syafii said on Monday.

The officer quoted the detainees as saying petty thieving was not their chief occupation.

Syafii said the eight were apprehended in the act of committing the crimes at the crowded Pulogadung bus terminal.

The group's modus operandi was for one individual to approach and distract the victim, while another gang member, approaching from the opposite direction, would grab jewelry, bags or wallets, Syafii said.

He said other gang members then confused the victim, by providing false information regarding the pickpocket's escape route.

If the victim tried to give chase, the gang members would block his or her way, he said.

Syafii said the group's members usually armed themselves with knives and machetes, but rarely used the sharp weapons in their operations.

Police are continuing their investigations, because the group is believed to have close contacts with other armed robber groups preying on public transportation in the capital.(emf)