Housewife critically injured in daylight burglary

JAKARTA (JP): A housewife was severely injured by an unidentified man who robbed her house on Jl. Poncol Lestari, South Jakarta, Tuesday morning, police said.

South Jakarta detective chief Maj. Rycko Almeza Daniel said later on Thursday that the victim, identified as Arlene Sitompul, 30, sustained injuries to her forehead, back of the head and chest.

"Her head was probably bashed against the floor several times by the robber," Rycko told The Jakarta Post.

Arlene was reportedly in a critical condition.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. when the man entered Arlene's house through an unlocked garage door.

She was reportedly taking a bath when the robber went up to the second floor of the house and started to riffle through the family's possessions.

Arlene's 10-year-old son named Nicolaus, who was playing computer games on the second floor, hid as soon as he saw the man.

Just after Nicolaus hid, Arlene came out of the bathroom and came face to face with the robber, Rycko said. The meeting apparently caused the man to panic and he beat and strangle her until she fell unconscious.

Escaped

Nicolaus fled to the roof, escaped and ran to a neighbor.

"By the time local residents found Arlene, the robber had already escaped," Rycko said.

"When the police went to the scene of the crime, we found traces of blood all over the place. We believe it belongs to the suspect."

Police followed the bloody prints and were led to the Pesanggrahan River, just 100 meters away from the house.

"There we obtained information that a man had jumped into the river and took an ojek (motorcycle taxi) on the other side," Rycko explained.

Judging from the traces of blood, the suspect was probably severely injured.

A fisherman named Abas, who saw the robber jump into the river, told the police that the man lost his shoes when crossing the river.

"He was soaking wet and barefoot. He wore a blue shirt and blue shoes. I got one of his shoes," Abas said.

One of Arlene's neighbors who gave her first aid, Gunawan, told the media that she was shocked to see Nicolaus running and crying.

"He told me: 'Auntie, Auntie, somebody hit my mommy. Please help me,' and I went straight to her home," the 30-year-old woman said.

Nicolaus seemed to be in shock and was tightly hugging his father, Sitompul, an employee of the city land transportation agency, who left the office and went home upon being informed about the incident.

Sitompul refused to comment on the incident. "I'm worried about my wife," he said.

Arlene, who was in a critical condition, was rushed to Fatmawati hospital.

Losses in the incident are still being calculated, but several pieces of gold jewelry were missing, police said.

Police have questioned at least five witnesses in the incident.

The case is being handled jointly by the Cilandak Police and the South Jakarta Police for further investigation.

"Hopefully we can catch the suspect(s) soon as we hope to get more details about the incident," Rycko said. (edt)