Six men arrested for car thefts

JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta police have arrested six men believed to be members of a notorious vehicle theft gang in separate raids which began on Aug. 10, an official said on Wednesday.

South Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Satrya Hari Prasetya told The Jakarta Post that the six suspects were Sungedi alias Didik, Iman Suwarno, Suprat alias Kastrol, Iwan, Suyono alias Bambang and Pur Pudjianto.

"We arrested Sungedi and Suyono on Aug. 10 while they were trying to sell a blue Kijang van to a prospective buyer in Bintaro, South Jakarta," Satrya said.

The blue Kijang van with license plate number B 1540 SI turned out to be stolen and is being held as evidence at South Jakarta police precinct.

"Information obtained from them led us to the other members of the gang, who all lived in South Jakarta," Satrya said.

The last suspect, Pur Pudjianto, was arrested on Monday, he added.

Police confiscated a total of six Toyota Kijang vans, one Toyota Kijang pick-up, one Suzuki Carry van and several sets of fake car keys from the suspects.

"The suspects confessed to at least 25 car thefts this year," he added.

The six suspects are currently being detained at South Jakarta police precinct. (edt)