Thirty armed men rob shoe factory

JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang Police are in the dark about a group of 30 people, armed with firearms and sharp weapons, who allegedly robbed a shoe factory of its entire manufacturing equipment at the factory's plant on Jl. Shang Yang in Jatiuwung, Tangerang, early on Thursday morning.

Tangerang Police deputy chief Comr. Ricky Wakanno confirmed the robbery, stating that according to testimonies of witnesses, the thieves arrived at the Dismakmur Santosa shoe factory in an unmarked truck, tied up and gagged the factory's security guard, Gunawan, 30, before proceeding with the robbery.

"They held Gunawan at gun-point, and then tied him up and gagged him. They then started to steal many things from inside the factory, including the manufacturing equipment, weaving equipment, and other items," Ricky told reporters, adding that the robbery occurred at 2 a.m. on Thursday.

"I have ordered my personnel to release the sniffers (dogs), to see what evidence they come up with. We are still questioning the eyewitnesses and owner of the factory," Ricky said.

"We have no idea what the material losses are to date." (ylt)