Police round up auto theft gang

BOGOR (JP): Bogor Police have arrested five men believed to be members of a vehicle theft gang, a senior police officer said on Friday.

The suspects were identified as Didin, 18, Bahrul Kamaludin, 29, Jujun Junaedi, 29, Komarudin, 22, and Mad Oman, 33, said Edmond Ilyas, head of Bogor police precinct.

They are believed to be part of a nine-member gang, he said. Police are searching for the other suspects.

"It's not a hard job since we have already identified the four thieves," he said.

Existence of the crime syndicate was uncovered with the arrest of Didin, Bahrul and Jujun on March 9 at midnight in front of Flamboyan discotheque on Jl. Baru-Kemang, Bogor.

Police suspicions were aroused because the men frequently stopped their minivan at several parked cars as though they were sizing up vehicles to be stolen, the officer said.

When officers approached the vehicle, Bahrul ran away, leaving the two others inside the vehicle, Edmond said. Police fired warning shots to stop Bahrul.

Information from the three led to police arrests of the two other gang members.

The gang allegedly succeeded in stealing and selling five Kijang vans and one Suzuki Carry minivan for Rp 5 million to Rp 6 million each, Edmond said.

"Those cars were stolen in Bogor and Tangerang areas," he said. (24/01)