Robbers spice up their crimes

Robbers spice up their crimes

JAKARTA: With the police cracking down on illegal firearms,
robbers are arming themselves with whatever weapons they can
find, including "pepper spray" made from diluted chili paste.

"Many robbers are now using this kind of 'pepper spray' to
stun their victims," the Jakarta Police's Sr. Comr. Muhamad
Jaelani said on Friday.

Police arrested four suspected robbers at the Tanah Abang
railway station on Tuesday evening. Officers confiscated from the
four suspects six kitchen knives, a crowbar, a large bottle of
homemade pepper spray, a pair of scissors, a screwdriver and a
pair of pliers.

"They were trying to steal a car .... They attacked the driver
and a passenger with the pepper spray," Jaelani said.

Police are looking for three more suspects who managed to
evade arrest. -- JP