Thief tries to escape arrest

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)