Teenagers wanted for robbery

South Jakarta police are looking for dozens of teenagers believed to have wounded and robbed a poor cigarette vendor on Jl. Samali in Mampang.

The suspects, equipped with sharp weapons, black masks, jeep, motorcycles and scooters, left the victim identified as Kusnadi after confiscating Rp 300,000 (US$137) in cash from him during the wee hours on Sunday.

Kusnadi, 32, suffered a severe wound to his face which has been treated with 17 stitches.

As of yesterday, the police lacked any information on the whereabouts of the suspects.

The robbery at the tiny 24-hour cigarette stall took place about 200 meters from the Mampang police subprecinct.

According to the victim, he was sitting at his stall when suddenly six masked young men came by and pointed their weapons at him.

"It was around 3 a.m.," he told Mampang police detectives.

The man from Kuningan, West Java, tried his best to protect his property by taking an iron pipe to fight back against the robbers, who immediately ran away.

The six masked teenagers ran to join their friends waiting some 100 meters away. (bsr)