Motor vehicle thieves nabbed

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested a group of motor vehicle thieves who operate in South Jakarta, Central Jakarta and Tangerang.

In a preliminary interrogation the alleged thieves admitted to stealing 15 motorcycles, a sedan and a minivan, Central Jakarta Police Chief Abubakar Nataprawira said on Wednesday.

He said one of the thieves, identified as Nurali, was apprehended on Monday night when he tried to sell a motorcycle to a prospective buyer in Bintaro, South Jakarta.

The buyer was identified as Ujang bin Sakri.

"The police then arrested four men, identified as Anwar, Samawi, Edi and Yaman alias Acong, who were believed to be members of Nurali's gang," Abubakar said yesterday.

The other thieves, identified as Iwan, Hamdani, and fences Endang and Dendis Saton are still at large, he added.

Abubakar said the thieves have sold the motorcycles for Rp 300,000 (US$128) each to fences.

He said the fences then changed the registered plate numbers of the motorcycles and sold them to people in Serang and Sukabumi, West Java.

He added that the thieves worked out their plans in a house on Jl. Raya, Deplu complex, Ciledug, in Tangerang. (jun)