POLICE have nabbed two Indonesian brothers, aged 17 and 19, who are believed to be behind a spate of robbery with hurt cases in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Serangoon, from May to November last year.

They were caught on Tuesday at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, during a joint operation by the Police Intelligence Department and Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

The duo would assault the victims from behind and robbed them of their valuables while they were still dazed, said police on Wednesday.

In one such case last November, a female victim was cycling along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 at about 8.30pm when she was hit on the back of her head with an unknown object and robbed of her mobile phone and wallet, while she was unconscious.

Through investigative leads, police established the identity of a 19-year-old Indonesian man and arrested him on Tuesday at 8am.

His brother, who was his accomplice, was nabbed at about 10.30 pm the same day.

Police also recovered the stolen items, along with a bicycle and a hammer believed to be used in the robberies.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Superintendent Lee Chin Ek, commended the officers for their determination, diligence and efficient investigative work that resulted in the arrest of the culprits.

He stressed that police view such incidents of violence, where innocent victims were attacked viciously, very seriously and will spare no effort to track down the perpetrators.

The duo are expected to be charged in court on Thursday for robbery with hurt, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, on conviction.