Taxi robber caught

Taxi robber caught

JAKARTA (JP): A man was arrested for holding up a taxi driver in the city's north yesterday.

Police said that Ucok Simorangkir, 27, was caught by a mob after being seen attempting to rob the driver of a taxi belonging to the Royal Taxi company at the intersection in front of the Hailai restaurant in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

The suspect, posing as a passenger, asked the driver to take him to Marunda. But as the taxi reached the Tanjung Priok bus station he pulled out a knife and asked the driver to give up his money. Ucok stole the driver's wallet, containing Rp 41,000 (US$18) in cash.

The driver then resisted and cried for help, losing control of the taxi, which mounted the sidewalk on Jl. Cilincing Raya.

Passersby reportedly caught the robber and turned him to police.(05)