Police warn of new approach in auto theft from residences

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)