Bus terminal thieves nabbed

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)