Daylight robbery near police station

JAKARTA (JP): Pancoran Police detectives are searching for clues after four armed robbers stole Rp 260 million (US$34,670) from two men outside the IBA building in South Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

South Jakarta Police deputy chief of detectives First. Lt. Firman Noorsya said Endang Suryatna, 67, and his driver, Nunung, 32, were held at gunpoint by one of the men while sitting in their blue metallic Kijang van in the parking lot of the building on Jl. Pasar Minggu Raya.

"The IBA building is right next to the Pancoran traffic police station. Robbers have become really daring nowadays," Firman said.

According to witnesses Mahoery and Djayoesman, both security guards at the building, four men riding two motorcycles arrived at the scene minutes after Nunung parked the van at 12:05 p.m.

"This is the first robbery in the 10 years that Djayoesman and I have worked as security guards for this building. It happened so fast, in two or three minutes. The robbery was done by professionals," Mahoery said.

He said that when the men parked their motorcycles, he walked over to them because they were parked in the wrong location.

"All four wore dark helmets, which were pulled down over their faces the whole time. One man approached me when I tried to approach them. He held out a FN gun, and told me to step back or he would shoot," Mahoery said.

"While one suspect held me to a post, another went behind the Kijang van, opened the left front door, and held out a gun. He said he would shoot if the victims made a sound."

The man made off with a blue bag containing the money.

"He then ran toward the motorbike, and sped off with his friend. In his haste, he nearly hit an old newspaper vendor who usually sells newspapers here," Mahoery said. (ylt)