Many runners in Jakarta look forward to Car Free Day (CFD) in Central Jakarta every Sunday, a weekly opportunity to get some exercise along the long stretch of Jalan Sudirman and Jalan MH Thamrin without the threat of motorized vehicles running them over. However, it appears that runners face other kinds of threats during CFD.
The Jakarta Metro Police yesterday arrested two suspected pickpockets who have been stealing several mobile phones from runners on CFD.
After receiving several reports of theft over some time, the police deployed officers to keep a look out for theft in the area. True enough, an officer yesterday spotted a mobile phone theft taking place during CFD.
“A suspect named Ali got in the way of the target, and then suspect Hasan snatched the mobile phone and handed it over to suspect Rian,” said Adjunct Grand Commissioner Eko Hadi Santoso, head of Jakarta Metro Police’s Mobile Detectives Sub-directorate, as quoted by Vivanews today.
Thankfully, the police arrested two of the suspects, Ali and Rian. However, Hasan managed to evade capture by running away and disappearing into the crowd.
The police confiscated four mobile phones and two purses from the suspects. They could face up to five years in prison for theft.
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