Housewife critically injured in daylight burglary
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)