Rash of robberies hit city over two days

JAKARTA (JP): A spate of daring robberies occurred at several sites on Sunday and Monday, stretching the resources of the harried city police.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Monday there were no fatalities during the crimes.

"But we have been receiving calls from the South Jakarta precinct for backups," Zainuri said.

The latest robbery occurred on Jl. Gunung Sahari in North Jakarta at about 2:30 a.m. on Monday when a group of six men slashed the wrist of a Taiwan national before taking Rp 160,000 and US$300 (Rp 2.1 million) in cash.

The victim was identified as Ping Chuan Wang, a businessman from a marriage agency in Taiwan. He was staying at a hotel on Jl. Mangga Besar in West Jakarta.

"He was bored in his hotel room and craving a local snake dish. He then took a taxi and told the driver what he was looking for. The taxi driver did not understand him, but took him around town," Zainuri said.

"At about 2 a.m., the taxi dropped him at Gunung Sahari, where there were a few Chinese food stalls open. He was looking into one of them when the six men came and grabbed him.

"One man slashed his wrist and took his money. The gang dispersed in different directions."

At 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, a man broke into a home on Jl. Kepu Selatan in Senen, Central Jakarta, robbing 19-year-old Niko of a watch worth Rp 30 million and 100 grams of jewelry.

About 15 minutes later, a group of robbers broke into a house on Jl. Daksa I in South Jakarta and tied up a man who was the only occupant.

Among the items stolen were four 32-inch Sony TV sets and a video handycam.

An hour later, T. Irbawanto, 30, arrived home to find his house on Jl. Tebet Barat in South Jakarta ransacked.

He lost two TV sets, a computer, a tape recorder and a watch.

On Saturday, police in Depok apprehended a maid and three male friends for allegedly stealing Rp 33.5 million in cash from her employer's house on Jl. Natuna in Cenere Limo.

The woman, Supinah, reportedly plotted the crime and called her friends when her employer, Dhody, was away.

When the men arrived, Supinah asked the other maid of the house, Narti, to make her a cup of tea. While Narti was in the kitchen, the three men allegedly came in and tied her to Dhody's bed.

They took $4,500 and Rp 12 million from Dhody's bedroom. (ylt)