Two armed robbers apprehended

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)