Thieves steal Rp 66m in two robberies

JAKARTA (JP): Police are searching for five men who were involved in two separate bank robberies over the weekend in West and Central Jakarta.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the five had stolen a total of Rp 66 million (US$5,500) -- Rp 60 million from privately run Bank Servitia and Rp 6 million from a businessman.

"We're still working hard to identify the suspects. We have some information on them from an employee of Bank Servitia, the businessman and several witnesses."

He said a preliminary investigation had revealed that the robbers had monitored their targets and the businessman had been followed.

The first robbery took place in the parking lot of privately run Panin Bank on Jl. Nelayan Barat in West Jakarta on Friday afternoon.

Aritonang said an employee of Bank Servitia, Hendra Kurniawan, 46, was carrying Rp 60 million in a bag at the time of the robbery.

Hendra was supposed to change the money into small- denomination bills at Bank Panin, which was located about 100 meters from Bank Servitia, the spokesman said.

"Well, it was understandable if he just walked from his office to Panin because it was nearby.

"But I suggest that any cash deliveries should be guarded by security officers or at least brought by more than one person, even if it was only to be transported for less than 100 meters."

Aritonang said a motorcyclist drew alongside Hendra and snatched the black plastic bag containing the money.

Hendra, and other onlookers in the parking lot, could do nothing to stop the motorcyclist from speeding away with the cash, he said.

The second robbery, which involved four armed suspects, occurred Saturday afternoon in front of Rivoli Theater on Jl. Kramat Raya in Central Jakarta.

The victim was businessman Cepi Muhammad Indrawan.

Aritonang said Cepi was carrying Rp 6 million, which he had just withdrawn from private Bank Niaga in Tebet, South Jakarta, he said.

Cepi was accompanied by his driver, Arief, and was on his way to another place. They stopped at Rivoli because Cepi wanted to check out a room in the building he planned to rent.

He said two of the four armed men surrounded Cepi as he walked away from the car and told him to hand over the attache case containing the money.

The driver could not help his employer because the other suspects threatened him with a sickle, he said.

The robbers could face a maximum penalty of nine years in jail. (cst)