Five people caught for computer monitor thefts
JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Police detectives arrested five people suspected of being involved in the theft of a shipment of computer monitors.
According to North Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Wisjnu Amat Sastro, two of the arrested suspects acted as fencers, selling the stolen monitors to individuals and computer dealers in several locations, including busy electronic markets in Glodok, West Jakarta.
Two other suspected members of the syndicate, whose identities already are known to the police, remain at large, Wisjnu told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
The five suspects currently being detained at North Jakarta Police Headquarters were identified as Ir, Kad, Ab, Is and Su Yung. The suspects are between the ages of 25 and 35.
The suspects were arrested at different locations last week following a complaint by export company PT Galindra Multi Cipta about the theft of its computer monitors, which were being shipped in a container truck.
"The monitors were supposed to be shipped to France," Wisjnu said.
Sung Yu was the last suspect arrested by officers. He was seized late Sunday. Based on a statement from the subject, Wisjnu has sent a number of his detectives to seize more monitors from traders in the Glodok area.
"I've sent my men to check the area and if necessary arrest those who are selling stolen merchandise," he said.
Based on a preliminary police investigation, Galindra Multi Cipta loaded 620 computer monitors, worth some Rp 400 million (US$47,058), into a container truck driven by Ir. The truck was to be driven from the Lippo Cikarang Industrial compound in Bekasi to Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta.
Before reaching the port, however, Ir pulled over at Ancol, where his accomplice, Sam, who is still at large, took over the wheel of the truck.
Sam drove to the nearby Kali Tirem area, where the other suspects were waiting.
"The group reportedly removed the computer monitors from the container and replaced them with other materials, such as stones and bags of sands," Wisjnu said.
The container then was delivered to the port and was shipped to France on March 8.
Galindra Multi Cipta's partner in France vociferously complained upon receiving stones and bags of sands instead of the computer monitors it had ordered.
Police so far have recovered 100 of the 620 stolen monitors. The monitors were confiscated from Is, who was displaying the stolen goods at an exhibition in Bandung, West Java.
"Police also confiscated Rp 10 millions in cash from two other suspects," Wisjnu said.
He said police would continue to probe the case because he believed this group was not the only group targeting export companies in the area.
"There are at least two or three similar groups which often operate in North Jakarta using the same modus operandi." (emf)