Police arrest detested, evil miscreants

Police arrest detested, evil miscreants

JAKARTA (JP) The Central Jakarta police have arrested six members of the most notorious burglary ring in the city, whose signature method of theft involved burrowing, rat-like, into the heart of their targeted buildings.

Maj. Charles Marpaung, head of the Central Jakarta crime investigation unit, told reporters yesterday that the subterranean recidivists, sought for nearly two-years, were arrested early this week.

"We nabbed them at a slum in Teluk Gong in North Jakarta where the group lived and disguised as poor people, whereas they have hundreds of million rupiahs on their hands due to the success of their many operations," he said.

During the raid, the police team arrested Kasbi, 38, the hardened ex-con who led the gang.

Along with Kasbi, Yanto, Joni, Ridwan, Cholik and Buntaro were arrested.

"Three others are still at large, but their identities are already in our hands," Charles said.

On the groups grime besmeared hands was the burglary of the Melawai optical center and a camera shop at the Blok M shopping center in South Jakarta. Their take included 400 pairs of glasses worth around Rp 160 million (US$74,400) and 19 cameras, worth over Rp 20 million ($9,300).

In West Jakarta, the group pilfered a safe containing Rp 50 million ($23,250) in cash from an affluent tailor.

In Central Jakarta, police have investigated at least two burglaries believed to have been committed by the group, including a theft at a stationery store which caused a loss totaling Rp 25 million ($11,630).

"The arrest of the group was based on our investigation of their latest theft," Charles said. (bsr)