Sat, 03 Jan 1998

Penjaringan Police hold man for house break-in

JAKARTA (JP): A man has been detained by the Penjaringan police subprecinct for allegedly breaking into a house in Pejagalan district, North Jakarta.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday Niat bin Sarman, 24, was brought to the police station Thursday afternoon by a security officer, who caught the suspect while trying to run away from the house.

Aritonang said that Niat, a laborer who rented a room in Kapuk Muara district, almost made off with a television set and a radio cassette player.

The alleged burglar forced his way into Kho Ting Hiem's house on Jl. Landa in Pejagalan while the owner was not home, Aritonang said.

"After breaking the front window, Niat left the house with the loot when he was spotted by the security officer," he said.

He said Niat would be charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code on intentionally breaking into other people's property and stealing other people's belongings.

"He could be jailed for nine years," he said.

North Jakarta Police are also looking for two men who were believed to have robbed a housewife Thursday afternoon.

The two unidentified motorcyclists had allegedly stolen Rp 700,000 (US$140) in cash, a camera, a five-gram gold ring and a 50-gram gold necklace from Ellen Mulyadi, 34, of Villa Duta housing estate in Bogor, West Java.

Ellen was visiting her parents' house on Jl. Pluit Putra Raya 15 in North Jakarta when the incident took place, Aritonang said.

"The woman, who was alone, just entered the gate to the house and had yet to get out of her Mercedes Benz sedan when the two men rushed to the car and robbed her," he said.

The two broke the car's front window and put a sickle around Ellen's neck, demanding she hand over her handbag, camera and jewelry.

"Apparently she was so shocked that she could not scream for help or sound the car's horn to catch other people's attention," said Aritonang.

He said the two wanted suspects could be sentenced to twelve years in jail if they were arrested. (cst)