Jakarta Police spokesman Sr.Comr.Rikwanto said on Friday that the suspects, identified only as Okai, Tarmo and Ucok, had surveyed the stores during the day by pretending to buy something and returned back to rob the stores at night.

In their operation, two of the suspects, Ucok and Tarmo, went into the store wearing helmets while another suspect, Okai, and his friend, Jhon, who remains at large, stayed on guard outside.

'€œThey were equipped with two guns to instill fear in the mini market employees,'€ said Rikwanto. He added that the police were searching for two people who rented them the guns for Rp 500,000 (US$40.78) each.

The police'€™s mobile detective chief ,Adj.Sr.Comr.Adex Yudiswan, said the suspects were members of one of three groups allegedly involved in mini market robberies in the city recently.

Adex said the suspects had robbed mini markets in West Java, comprising two robberies in Depok, twice in Bogor and seven times in Cikarang, Bekasi, and five times in East Jakarta. He said the suspects had stolen Rp 25 million on average from each store.

During the arrest, the police seized two guns, 20 caliber 3.8 millimeter bullets, 41 caliber 7.65 millimeter bullets and Rp 28.8 million in cash. They also confiscated three motorcycles, two cars, cigarette packs and several packs of powdered milk.

Adex said the suspects were also involved in several car and motorcycle thefts. (nai/ebf)

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