Police shoot thief dead in street

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Like a scene from an action movie, two detectives chased after two suspected motorcycle thieves along Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta before lunchtime on Wednesday, sending pedestrians fleeing in panic as the officers fired their guns.

One of the suspects, Kadir, was hit in the stomach and died.

The other suspect, Firmansyah, was shot in the leg and was taken to Soekanto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

The Setiabudi Police had received numerous reports of motorcycles stolen from in front of the Tamara Bank building.

Two detectives went undercover as gardeners pruning the hedge along the sidewalk and parked their motorcycle there.

The suspects took the bait and attempted to make off with the detectives' motorcycle, resulting in the dramatic chase and shooting.

Meanwhile on Tuesday night, an armed robber shot a resident of Setu, Cipayung, East Jakarta, when she attempted to prevent a gang of thieves from stealing her car from in front of her house.

The resident, Nina, was shot in the chest and is being treated at Pondok Gede Hospital.

The four men fled the scene on two motorcycles.