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)