Residents foil taxi robberies

Residents foil taxi robberies

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, and
Penjaringan, North Jakarta, foiled taxi robberies in their
respective areas early on Sunday morning, and handed over the
suspects to the police.

The decision by the locals to turn over the suspects to the
police was somewhat unusual, given the recent spate of
vigilantism in the capital. In incident after incident, many
residents have chosen to take justice into their own hands,
brutally beating and burning alleged criminals they have
apprehended.

The first attempted taxi robbery on Sunday took place at about
2:30 a.m. on Jl. Adiyaksa Raya in Lebak Bulus subdistrict. Two
passengers in a Morante taxi, who were later identified as Fuad
Husin, 29, and Anang, 20, attempted to rob the driver, Usin, 32,
South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Supt. Edward Aritonang said.

The taxi first drew attention when it drove through the
entrance gate of the Pondok Pinang toll road without paying the
fee, Edward said.

Then as the vehicle traveled along Jl. Adiyaksa, Usin drove
onto the sidewalk and jumped out of the vehicle, screaming for
help, the officer said.

He said officers seized from the suspects a cutter, rope and
Rp 281,000 they allegedly stole from the driver.

The second incident occurred on Jl. Muara Baru in Penjaringan,
when three people posing as passengers forced a taxi driver to
hand over his cash and the vehicle's radio.

According to the police, the three suspects stopped the taxi
in Kebon Tebu, Penjaringan.

While traveling on Jl. Muara Baru, the driver stopped the
vehicle and began to flee, the report said.

As he fled, driver Tohirin screamed for help, which drew the
attention of local residents. (asa)