Hail metro police!

Hail metro police!

From Merdeka

Near the end of 1996, the Metro Jaya Police's undercover unit succeeded in busting a large-scale shoplifting racket in Jakarta and Central Java.

Quite an astonishing achievement, really. And why not? The ring managed to rake in about Rp 6 billion. Fantastic, indeed! What was even more amazing was that the ring consisted mainly of women who used vans for their operations and to drop members at their chosen locations. Members posed as shoppers, then proceeded to lift valuable household ware.

Supermarkets, department stores and shops were not their only areas of operation. They also visited warehouses where such merchandise is stored. They really were a professional shoplifting team. The more so, if we consider their network and the volume of the merchandise, which is said to fill 10 trucks and two vans, totaling Rp 6 billion.

Beside our salutations to the Metro Jaya Police, we cannot hide our sadness about the fact that most members of the ring were women, who are usually attributed with a soft and mild character.

We hope there will be no more shocking news about thieving Eves. I shudder at the thought!

DIDI CHAERUDDIN

Jakarta