Four crimes spoil New Year's festivity

Four crimes spoil New Year's festivity

JAKARTA (JP): Four crimes spoiled New Year's Eve celebrations
in Greater Jakarta, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said
yesterday.

Speaking at an early morning press conference, Hamami said the
most serious crime happened on a West Jakarta toll road when
eight men robbed a truck driver and stole goods worth Rp 100
million (US$42,105) at 8:00 p.m. on Dec. 31.

"Armed with a sickle one of the criminals forced the truck
driver, Masimun, to submit," Hamami said.

All the suspects are still at large, the two-star general
said. He did not describe what goods were stolen by the eight.

According to Hamami, three men broke into the house of
Soopater Alkatiri in Jati Bening, Bekasi, two hours earlier and
stole Rp 10 million.

He said the burglars entered the house through the front door
before threatening to kill Alkatiri with a sword. "They asked the
victim for money and escaped."

The police also arrested a man for robbing a private company
employee, Edi, of a 25-gram gold necklace on Jl. Tubagus Angke,
in West Jakarta.

The suspect, identified as Herry Heriyanto, asked Edi for the
necklace and threatened to kill him if he refused.

"A police patrol who knew of the incident chased after and
arrested the suspect," the police chief said.

Another burglary happened at a private firm PT Surya Eden
Utama. "More than one persons stole three computers, two printers
and an audio set worth Rp 10 million from the office," he said.

The thieves entered the company's office after breaking the
door lock.

Hamami said 250 crimes had occurred from Dec. 30 to Dec. 31
1996, or 100 less than in the same period in 1995. (jun)