Thief shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot dead a man Saturday who was allegedly trying to steal a Kijang van on Jl. Cideng in Gambir, Central Jakarta.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim said a police patrol found Jaelani, 27, and three accomplices, trying to steal the van. "The three men escaped on two motorcycles, while Jaelani remained. He had no choice but to try to escape."

He said his officers had chased him and fired two warning shots, but Jaelani attacked the officers with a sickle rather than surrender. "He was shot twice in the chest and died instantly."

Ibrahim said Jaelani had used a master key to open the van belonging to Roby, a Menteng resident. Roby had parked his van on the roadside while visiting a friend.

Jaelani and his friends were well known to police for being involved in several car thefts in Central Jakarta, Ibrahim said.

At least 24 men have been shot dead by police since January. The police have said that most were shot for resisting arrest.

Last year, police shot dead 46 men for the same reason. (jun)