16 Robbers Arrested in Three Days as Police Probe Suspected Mugging Ring

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — A total of 16 thieves were arrested by police over a three-day period. The Director of General Criminal Investigation of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, said that most of the suspects were detained after their actions were shared by netizens on social media, which facilitated identification by the police. “On the first day, we arrested eight suspects. Then yesterday we arrested two suspects. And today, we arrested six suspects whose stories went viral on social media,” Iman told reporters at the Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Some arrests were also to satisfy the consumption of narcotics and other controlled substances. Iman noted that the arrest of the 16th suspect was also aided by cooperation between the police and the Jakarta Provincial Government in integrating surveillance cameras installed at various points. For the 16 individuals, police are examining potential links among them, regardless of where the incidents occurred. Iman said that tracing inter-suspect connections is now being carried out by examining their mobile phones to view their communication networks. Police also recovered a number of firearms and bladed weapons used by the perpetrators during the actions or at the time of arrest. Going forward, investigators will trace the origins of the confiscated items. They face a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.