Police nab marine, two men for a series of thefts
Police nab marine, two men for a series of thefts
JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta police have arrested three men on suspicion of belonging to a gang that has committed a series of thefts in and around the mayoralty in the past two months.
Police sources reported yesterday that one of the men is an Indonesian marine and that he used the privileges of his uniform to assist in the crime wave.
The two civilians have already confessed to stealing Rp 1.89 million (US$879), and the police predict that they will soon take credit for more.
"We believe that they earned more than they have confessed and committed more burglaries," South Jakarta police precinct chief Lt. Col. Adang Rismanto said.
Besides investigating the possible involvement of the three in other crimes, the police are also searching for their accomplices.
The three were arrested near Pasar Minggu at around 3 a.m. yesterday and have been identified as Haryanto, Rudiyanto and Budi Utomo.
Police sources identified Budi Utomo as the marine involved with the thefts.
Adang refused to further comment on the involvement of the armed forces member, but he did admit that one of the suspects is a member of the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) and is being detained at his headquarters.
During the preliminary interrogation, the three admitted that they had committed eight burglaries at an office, residences and various types of shops on Jl. Raya Ciputat, Jl. Kebayoran Lama, Jl. Tanah Kusir, Jl. Cidodol and on the Bekasi highway.
The group always drove different vehicles, believed to be stolen, during the thefts.
"They had complete tools, including giant scissors to cut padlocks, in their hands," Adang said.
Items stolen by the gang ranged from personal computers, portable typewriters, clocks, automobile mini televisions, water pumps, cement mixers, gas tubes and cash.
The police suspect that most of the stolen items were sold by the group to Acep, a fence at the Jatinegara market in East Jakarta, and that there accomplices included men identified as Endut, Ata, Pepen and Teguh. The four are still at large.
The ages of all the suspects are between 25 and 30, Adang said. (bsr)