Police warn of new approach in auto theft from residences

JAKARTA (JP): The city police has identified a new method used by auto theft gangs in their operation in the greater Jakarta area, an officer said on Thursday.

"The criminals managed to lift the front gates of residential houses and made off with the vehicles without making noises that could alert the owners," Jakarta Police detectives chief Col, Alex Bambang Riatmodjo told a media briefing.

The automobile theft syndicates have already applied their new techniques at several residential areas in Bekasi, the officer added.

The operation of the bandits would be more smoothen should the houses were left empty by their owners.

Alex, therefore, suggested Jakartans to further enhance security activities at their related neighborhoods.

He refused to explain the police plan to deal with the street criminals since his men were on their way to bust the gangs, which have spread fears among car owners since most of them worked in big groups and armed.

"Sorry, I cannot provide details on our plans and strategies to face with these crooks," Alex said.

In the past few months, Jakarta has faced a significant increase in the vehicle theft cases. Many said that the unpopular growth is merely sparked with the increasing demands of cheap cars in the black market following the strong depreciation of rupiah to the U.S. dollar which has brought the price of cars in the country almost tripled.

So far this month alone, the city police had seized at least 29 units of various types of stolen cars in and around the capital.

Six of the cars bore no legal documents at all, Alex said.

All of the stolen vehicles, including 10 Toyota Kijang vans, a Mercedes Benz sedan and an Opel Blazer jeep, were confiscated from 11 members of a vehicle theft syndicate and eight other suspects from a group specializing in modifying and selling stolen vehicles, he disclosed.

Alex identified the leader of the theft gang as Anwar, 40, a driver living in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. His arrested members were identified as Hengki Ahmad, 32, Bahtiar, 34, Edi, 24, Rohiman, 48, Anton, 32, Didi, 37, Mulyadi, 31, R. Firdaus, 30, Yayan, 34, and Wahyu, 42. Most of the gang members already worked as drivers and employees of private firms.

They were arrested on Sunday at different places in Tangerang, Depok, and Jakarta. From this gang, police seized 14 vehicles.

Their detention was made following the arrest of members of the stolen car fencers, led by Syarifudin, 46, few days earlier.

In his operation, Syarifudin was helped by his six men, some of whom also acted as thieves.

The gang usually offered their loots along with fake documents.

From this group, the police confiscated five vehicles,

During police interrogation, members of Anwar gang admitted to usually sell the stolen, for example, Toyota Kijang vans to the fencers at about Rp 5 million each. The cars is then sold again to another fencer. A brandnew Toyota Kijang van is officially sold at many showrooms here at over Rp 80 million each.

During the first three weeks of this month, the police also seized nine cars, including three Toyota Kijang vans, one Mercedes Benz and one Suzuki Sidekick jeep, from motorists, who failed to show appropriate documents.

According to Bambang, the police is still further investigating the cases. (06)