Police apprehend 'red-light' robbers

JAKARTA: City police arrested on Friday two of five suspected robbers belonging to a gang who rob motorists at intersections in South Jakarta.

"They used gas-fueled lighter which look like a gun to scare their victims who stop at the red light," deputy head of Jakarta Police detectives unit, Adj. Sr. Sigit Sudarmanto, was quoted as saying by Antara.

The suspects were identified as IS alias PL, 25, a resident of Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, and SBS, 21, a resident of Tambun, Bekasi.

The other three: AG, AR and AS, who were identified as the buyers in Senen, Central Jakarta, are still at large.

The suspects told the police they had committed the crime four times in Simprug, three times in Kebayoran Lama, twice at Lebak Bulus intersection and once on Jl. Arteri Pondok Indah, Sigit said.

The robbers usually took the victims' cellular phones, money and jewelry," he added. -- JP