Two armed robbers apprehended

JAKARTA (JP): Two street criminals armed with sharp weapons were apprehended by passers-by at different locations in the capital on Wednesday thanks to the alerting screams of the victims.

Another crook managed to escape from the crowd.

The incidents took place at Pulogadung bus terminal in East Jakarta and Jl. Mangga Besar in the Taman Sari area of West Jakarta respectively, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Thursday.

The Pulogadung scene occurred at around 10 p.m. when female victim Mursiah, 30, of Kampung Rawa Selatan in Johar Baru, Central Jakarta, was waiting for a bus inside the intercity bus terminal.

"Suddenly, the suspect, Simamora, 25, approached her and pointed a knife at her and asked the woman to take off her necklace," Lubis said.

However, Mursiah dared to scream for help which then alerted passers-by at the bus terminal.

Simamora was then caught and taken to the nearby police station for questioning.

One hour later, 61-year old Ana Chandra was walking down the street on busy Jl. Mangga Besar when two men, later identified as Sarifudin, 23, and his accomplice Nurdin Al-Azis, 27, suddenly blocked her way.

"Pointing a sickle at her, the two crooks ordered Ana to hand over her handbag," Lubis said, adding that the handbag only contained spectacles and a shirt belonging to the elderly woman.

Before the two managed to flee with the stolen handbag, Ana screamed for help which alerted nearby residents.

But Nurdin managed to escape from the mob when they were trying to encircle Sarifudin, who was carrying the sickle.

No serious injuries were reported in the two incidents. (emf)