Military police officer arrested for vehicle theft

Military police officer arrested for vehicle theft

JAKARTA (JP): Bekasi police have arrested three suspects, including a military police officer, for their alleged roles in the theft of at least 22 motorcycles.

"Another member of this vehicle-theft gang is still at large," City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told reporters here yesterday.

The three identified are Tadjuddin, Rohiman and Rohman, the military officer.

Rohman is believed to be the one who actually stole the motorcycles, while the other two acted as fences, Bambang reported.

"Most of the victims were ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers," he said.

Apparently, Rohiman would ask an ojek driver to take him to a certain place and then ask the unsuspecting driver to buy cigarettes for him -- and for the driver as well," Bambang reported, as his explanation of the scheme.

As soon as the driver left to go to a nearby shop, Rohiman would take off on his motorcycle.

Bambang said the police had impounded 22 stolen motorcycles. (bsr)