Police still fishing for suspects in shrimp theft

TANGERANG (JP): The police have caught none of an estimated 2,000 people who stole about 1.5 tons of shrimps in Teluknaga coast on Monday night.

Chief of the investigation unit of Tangerang Police precinct Capt. Krisnadi said yesterday that the police had to act carefully because the incident involved a large number of people.

"So far, none of them has been questioned for their direct involvement in the theft," he said.

Krisnadi confirmed that about 2,000 people had raided a three- hectare shrimp pond owned by Suherman on Monday night and caused Rp 180 million in financial loss.

He said the people came from eight villages in the area -- Muara, Tanjung Pasir, Rawalumpang, Gaga, Jembatan Loceng, Salembaran, Ketapang and Lemo.

Kompas daily reported yesterday that the villagers streamed to the ponds at about 9 p.m Monday and collected shrimps which the owner planned to harvest on Tuesday.

Misi, 41, a security guard at the pond, said that the raiders cheerfully ignored warning shots fired by police and military officers called to the scene.

"Come on officers, keep on shooting! Let this festivity continue," Misi quoted a thief as screaming. He added that other thieves danced upon hearing the warning shots.

Misi said that one thief incapacitated a police dog by throwing mud in its face.

Traditionally, local communities get a share from shrimp harvests. After harvesting, the pond owner will let local people catch the remaining shrimps.

Another shrimp pond owner, Viking Charlie, was quoted by the daily as saying that over the past few days some people were seen loitering by the side of ponds with small nets in their hands. He said they were waiting for the harvest.

He said people sometimes demanded a share and unless the owner met their requests, the people would turn hostile despite on-duty security officers.

"Apparently, they knew the police officers would not use force to herd them away, so they kept hanging around," Viking said.

He said the shrimp business was very lucrative these days, with a kilogram selling for up to up Rp 120,000.

"Shrimp has become an expensive commodity. No wonder that many people are tempted to rob their neighbor's ponds," he said.

Mastur, a pond security guard, was quoted by the daily as saying that the stolen shrimps were sold for Rp 90,000 per kilogram to buyers who had lined up near the ponds.

A local resident said that many people were tempted to violate the law and rob a shrimp pond. (ivy/41)