Crime at the road

During the afternoon, cruising to a business appointment in Pasar Minggu, on turning left into Jl. Simatupang from Jl. Ampera Raya, we (driver and self) discovered a rupture in the car's rear tyre. We coasted down to a level spot and started to change the tire.

On hearing an unusual noise I ventured to look under the vehicle to see most of the documents that were in my briefcase lying on the road.

I ran to the front of the vehicle to see two men take off on a motorcycle with my briefcase, containing cash, travel documents, personal items and importantly, documents relating to important impending transactions, safely tucked between them.

As the spot selected for this well planned crime, the tire being deflated by a sharp "prong" made from folded metal, was uphill it was futile to try to chase them on foot and they struck only after the tire had been removed from the vehicle (so to pursuit in the vehicle as out of question).

In the event I had a gun, I would have had no compunction in using it, but then I would have suffered the wrath of the law as I do not possess diplomatic immunity.

Having replace the tire, we proceeded to the Police post in Jl. Ampera Raya, only two to three hundred meters from the location of the crime, and was then escorted to the Police Station at the Pasar Minggu precinct. The officers were extremely courteous and went through the motions of recording my statement and issued me with the notice of report.

No attempt was made to check out the spot where the crime took place or to investigate the implement used to deflate the tire. I was informed that this was a very common occurrence in the vicinity of that particular location and the modus operandi was always the same.

Amazingly that this very common occurrence takes place within walking distance of a police post.

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