Robber shot dead trying to escape

TANGERANG: Police shot dead on Thursday a member of a gang specializing in robbing jewelry stores when he tried to escape arrest in Jembatan Besi, West Jakarta.

The robber, Wahyu, alias Sabra, 30, had been arrested on Thursday morning along with accomplices Soleh, 31, and Mahuddin, 29, in Sukamaju village, Cikesal district, Serang regency.

The suspects had testified during questioning that another member of the gang, PT, lived in a rented house in Jembatan Besi.

"We took Wahyu there so he could lead us to PT," said deputy chief of Tangerang Police detectives Insp. Kustanto.

He said when they arrived in Jembatan Besi, Wahyu suddenly knocked down the two policemen escorting him and fled, ignoring the repeated warning shots.

"He ignored the shots, so we had to shoot him in the back. He died instantly," Kustanto said.

Police managed to arrest PT after the shooting and seized two guns as evidence. -- JP