Six people rob house at noonday

Six people, including a woman, robbed a luxury house in Central Jakarta early yesterday afternoon after tying up the maid and gardener.

The robbery reportedly took place around 12:15 p.m. on Jl. Cempaka Putih Timur, Central Jakarta. Police reports said six unidentified men, armed with machetes and sickles, took Dedi Kurnaldi, 26, the gardener, who was busy with his work, by surprise with their sudden entry through the open front gate.

Only Dedi and housemaid Anna Savera, 19, were at the house, which is reportedly owned by a staff member of the state-owned Jakarta Lloyd shipping company, when the robbery took place.

The six criminals allegedly pushed Dedi into the house and found Anna doing household work there.

After tying and gagging the two in the bathroom, the criminals ransacked the house and made away with three television sets, a video tape player, a personal computer and printer, and three tape players.

Dedi and Anna, who managed to free themselves and reported the theft to the police, said they believed the thieves had stolen much more but they could not count the total losses incurred by their employer. (jsk)