Public order officer was brains behind robberies: Police

The Jakarta Post | Wed, 05/25/2011 9:41 PM

The police have discovered that a public order officer in Indramayu, West Java, was the brains behind a string of robberies in the town.  

Haji Tri, who lives in Tugu village, Indramayu, owns the house that became the headquarters for a number of thieves specializing in bank and ATM robberies.

“[Haji Tri] is a public order officer and he is now on the wanted list,” Jakarta Police detective unit land and building head Comr. Herry Herryawan said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He said the Haji Tri group had plenty of members.
“This group specialized in bank and ATM machines in minimarkets on the edge of town,” Herry said.

The police conducted a sting at Haji Tri’s house but he was not home, while one suspect managed to escape in a car. The police are still looking for 10 members of the group.

“[The suspect] carried two short-barreled firearms used in the act [of robbing],” Herry said.

The group has carried out eight robberies so far, including a house in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, in April, an internet café in Cikedung Elor, Indramayu, on May 14 and a Bank Rakyat Indonesia branch in Kandang Haur, Indramayu, last Tuesday.