Suspected car thief arrested

Suspected car thief arrested

JAKARTA (JP): City Police have arrested a man suspected of stealing a car from Pondok Indah Mall in South Jakarta last week.

A police patrol spotted the suspect driving the stolen car in the early hours of Saturday on Jl. Sangaji in Central Jakarta. When the suspect, identified as Heru Subekti, 30, was ordered to stop, he sped away. During the ensuing chase, the suspect hit a tree.

The theft at Pondok Indah Mall started when a group of five armed people forced Arselan Yatim, a resident of Bintaro Jaya in South Jakarta, into taxi. They then took Arselan's car keys and documents and left by the side of the street.

His accosters then returned to Pondok Indah Mall and stole his car from the parking area.

A police officer said that this constituted a new modus operandi for car thefts. (29)