Pickpockets arrested by police

JAKARTA: Four alleged pickpockets who operated on public minivans and buses were arrested following complaints from passengers.

The four admitted that in the past two months, they had stolen cellular phones and wallets from the passengers of public transportation, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.

The four, who were arrested in Ciledug on Friday, committed their crimes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

They reportedly operated on a number of different buses, including minivans plying the Ciledug-Ciputat route and the Kebayoran Lama-Tanah Abang route, minivans serving Jl. Gajahmada and public buses serving the Pulogadung-Tanjungpriok route.

Anton said that late last month, the police also arrested two pickpockets who operated on buses plying the Pulogadung-Kota and Pulogadung-Tanah Abang routes.

The two were arrested on Jl. Gajahmada. They admitted to operating from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. four days a week, taking Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays off.--Antara