Three robber groups arrested

JAKARTA: Police revealed on Monday that they had uncovered three robber groups targeting jewelry shops, residences and banks during two weeks of surveillance, shooting one to death and arresting 13 others.

The city police chief of detectives for general crimes, Adj. Sr. Comr. Tito Karnavian, said one of the groups, led by Priyadi Hasan alias Alam, 47, operated in several locations of Jakarta, East Java and North Sumatra.

Another led by Wasalam Siagian operated in residential areas in Jakarta. The third group, reportedly led by Ganda, Simatupang operated in Jakarta.

Over three years, Alam's group managed to secure more than 25 kilograms of gold as well as cash, totaling Rp 2.4 billion, Tito said.

"Alam was shot dead on Sunday evening when he tried to seize the police officer's gun in his attempt to flee," Tito said.

He said that three robbers were still at large.--JP