Police arrest motorcycle thieves

BOGOR (JP): Police here arrested five members from a gang of vehicle thieves in the process of stealing a motorcycle in the early hours of Monday.

The suspects were identified as: Muhtadin, alias Ompong, 23; Julianto, alias Obot, 20; Odas, alias Jai, 30; Deden, alias Marzuki, 20; and Agus Hermawan, alias Suradi, 19.

Cisarua Police detective chief Second. Insp. Bektiyana said the arrest was made near Hotel Bali International during a routine patrol on Jl. Raya Puncak at around 1 a.m. Monday. Police seized a Yamaha RX King from the suspects.

"We saw men sitting around a fire near the hotel. We greeted them and they looked restless, saying that they were waiting for a friend. One of them gave suspicious codes and we eventually arrested them," the officer said.

Several hours later two other men, Ompong and Jai, arrived at the location, dragging their theft victim and his motorcycle with them, Bektiyana said.

The officer said the two gang members escaped arrest, but later in the day police captured them after raiding their houses in Cilembar village.

All of the suspects confessed to having always followed their victims before beating them unconscious with stones and stealing their motorbikes.

The gang admitted to having stolen several brands of motorbike in the areas surrounding Gunung Mas tea plantation, later selling them for between Rp 3 million to Rp 16 million each. (21/edt)