Thief tries to escape arrest

JAKARTA (JP): A man tried to escape arrest yesterday after he allegedly stole a Rp 3 million (US$750) handbag at Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta.

Doni, in his 20s, escaped from security guards' custody as they tried to hand the suspect over to police. He was apprehended a few meters away from the Menteng Police subprecinct office after failing to make his getaway on a motorcycle driven by a reporter from The Jakarta Post and his colleague.

The suspect managed to escape when he arrived in a taxi at the police office in the company of the security officers.

He jumped into a gutter in front of the police office on Jl. Sutan Syahrir after he managed to free himself from his handcuffs.

The two security guards, a police officer and several people chased the suspect, who continued to run away despite the fact people were throwing stones at him.

Doni, a resident of Depok, approached the Post's motorcycle, pushed the female reporter off the back and ordered the driver to speed away.

But the driver, Junaidi, refused Doni's order and turned the motorcycle on its side. Junaidi then managed to grab the keys to the motorcycle as the suspect tried to make his escape.

The police officer and security guards finally managed to apprehend the suspect.

"It was scary, like it was out of a movie," said Emmy, one of the Post's crime reporters.

Doni was busted at 1 p.m. after staff spotted him on the second floor of Plaza Indonesia stealing the Channel leather handbag. (jun/bsr)