Police confiscate 18 stolen cars

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police confiscated 18 stolen vehicles from 16 alleged car thieves, including vehicles from three buyers of the stolen cars, over the last two weeks, an official said on Tuesday.

Chief of the city police detective unit Col. Alex Bambang Riatmojo said the cars included a dark blue BMW 230i sedan and a green metallic Timor.

Alex declined to reveal details on the arrest of the 16 suspects, although he said they were arrested in separate incidents.

"Preliminary investigations show that the thieves worked in groups, using various methods and moving from one area to another."

One of the suspects, 32-year-old Bagiarto said he was a former employee of Bank Sahid Gajah Perkasa, and had been in charge of maintaining the company's operation vehicles.

"I made a substitute key of the firm's car and gave it to my friend, Boy Pribadi, who then stole the car when it was parked in the company's parking lot," Bagiarto said.

He said he had no regrets about his action, as he was angry with his former company. He said that when he was dismissed from his office a few months ago, the office did not provide satisfactory compensation.

"But we had not sold the car, as we were arrested shortly after the theft took place."

Alex invited city residents whose vehicles had been stolen to examine the vehicles displayed at city police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta.

Alex said the recent seizure of vehicles was carried out by police detectives in their efforts to maintain security during the campaigning period. (emf)