JAKARTA: A group of six men armed with sickles robbed the house of a policeman on Jl. Balai Rakyat, Koja district, North Jakarta, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, taking away a television set, a computer, an electric piano, gold jewelry and Rp 3.5 million (US$411) in cash.

In his report to the police, Adj. First Insp. Suparta, 54, said the six shut the power off and cut the phone line before breaking in. They locked Suparta, his wife, two children and one grandchild in two separate rooms. The robbers fled in a silver Kijang minivan.

Koja police chief Comr. Andre Wibowo said Suparta recognized one of the culprits.

"But when we came to arrest him, the suspect's family members showed us a medical assessment confirming that the man is mentally ill," Andre said, adding the probe will continue. -- JP