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)