16 Street Robbers Arrested Across Jabodetabek in Three Days

Metro Jaya Police, through its Begal Hunting Team, arrested 16 street criminals in an operation over three consecutive days in Jakarta and the surrounding area. The Director of General Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Police, Iman Imanuddin, said the team was formed to respond to public concern about street robberies that had gone viral on social media. ‘For three days in a row, we carried out these efforts together with the community,’ he said on Wednesday. He explained that eight suspects were arrested on the first day, followed by two on the second day, and six on the third day of the operation. One case involved the robbery of a cellphone from a child in Ciputat while the victim was filming a bus. In the latest arrests, police also seized several pieces of evidence, including a firearm believed to have been used to threaten victims. According to Iman, some suspects belonged to different networks, while others were results of investigations into suspects previously arrested. Police also found economic motives and narcotics abuse behind the actions of the perpetrators. ‘Some of them tested positive for amphetamine in urine tests,’ he said. Metro Jaya Police also welcomed the integrated CCTV system funded by the Jakarta Provincial Government, which helped accelerate suspect identification. In addition, swift tips from the public via social media and local residents’ active participation in security posts were cited as important factors in resolving the cases. The suspects are charged under articles relating to robbery with violence and illegal firearm possession, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.