Police bust car theft gang

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested over the weekend a gang suspected of having stolen at least 12 vehicles since 1993.

"Four of the 13 gang members are still at large, but have been identified," city police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Permantoro told reporters yesterday.

Of the nine arrested, Sur, 29, suspected of being the ring leader, was shot dead while trying escape police custody, Bambang said.

Police have confiscated all 12 stolen vehicles, false vehicle documents and tools used for the thefts.

According to Bambang, the gang members were apprehended in Jakarta and West Java.

"The gang allegedly used motorcycles to find the cars. Later they broke the door locks of the cars. The stolen cars were sold using false documents, Bambang reported.

The eight arrested gang members are, at present, being held pending trial. (01)