Two thieves face citizen's arrest

JAKARTA (JP): A resident of Jl. Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta apprehended two men after they robbed a woman of her handbag containing Rp 7 million on Thursday morning.

The two were identified as Jumaher, 20 and Selaman, 21, Lubis said.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said that the incident took place at 1 a.m., as Tetty Arli, a resident of Tanah Abang, returned home from her office at Hotel Wisata by becak (pedicab).

Two men riding on an RX-King motorcycle approached the pedicab and snatched Tetty's handbag from her lap.

The victim's screams alerted pedicab drivers and other people in the vicinity.

"So many people were chasing the thieves as they left on their motorcycle, that they panicked and hit a car parked nearby," Lubis said.

The resident made the citizen's arrest and the police arrived shortly afterward.

He said that the two sustained a beating before being handed over to police. No serious injuries were reported.

Lubis said that police confiscated the handbag belonging to the victim as evidence.

"The bag contained Rp 7 million," he said.

The two suspects were detained at Central Jakarta police station for questioning. (emf)