Police bust two vehicle theft gangs, seize seven cars

Police bust two vehicle theft gangs, seize seven cars

JAKARTA (JP): Police announced yesterday that they have busted
two gangs of automobile thieves and confiscated at least seven
stolen vehicles from them.

Maj. Endang Sunjaya, chief of the theft unit of the general
crimes office at the city police headquarters, told a press
meeting yesterday the two groups were called "Gang of Didi Ambon"
and "Gang of Surawi."

He spoke in the company of Lt. Col. Gories Mere, chief of the
general crimes office, and Lt. Col. Latief Rabar, a city police
spokesman.

Endang said the four-strong Didi Ambon gang consisted of Darma
Budi Tukan, alias Didi Ambon, 35, the leader of the group, who
lived in Ciputat, Tangerang; Didi Permana, alias Ajo, 32, a
resident of Depok; Yan Antoni, 32, a resident of Bogor, and
Rachmat Anwar, 42. Police did not mention the residence of
Rachmat.

The group sold their stolen vehicles through a fence named
Imam, 45, who lived in East Java.

According to Endang, in order to escape arrest, the gang kept
moving from one city to another during the operation. The gang
also set up basis in four cities -- Palembang, Serang, Bandung
and Surabaya.

"If they stole a car in one city, they sold it elsewhere,"
said Endang.

Police first captured Didi in Sukabumi, West Java, about a
month ago and arrested the other group members and the fence over
the next few days.

Police also confiscated seven stolen vehicles from them,
comprising a Starlet sedan, a Mitsubishi pickup, a Daihatsu
pickup, a Zebra van, a Suzuki Carry van and two Toyota sedans.

Military

The Gang of Surawi, he added, consisted of three members,
including Saini Saputro, alias Eko Saputro, 27, who lived in
Condet Ujung subdistrict, East Jakarta; Edi Sulistiyanto, alias
Alex, 26, a resident of Duri Kosambi district, West Jakarta, and
Surawi, the leader of the gang.

Surawi's gang sold the vehicles through two fences identified
as Ateng Kartono and Mulyono.

Two of the three, all reportedly former military members, have
been captured by the police. Surawi is still at large.

"This group limited their operations to East and West Jakarta,
stealing unattended vehicles," Endang said.

For unknown reasons, the group specialized in stealing vans
and pickups.

Police first captured Alex a month ago, then captured Saini
yesterday outside a military compound in South Jakarta.(jsk)