Army Officer Accused of Breaking Into Multiple Minimarkets in Tulungagung
A series of minimarket burglaries in Tulungagung and Trenggalek, East Java, has been solved. The suspect, identified as AM, is a TNI AD soldier stationed at Koramil Pakel, Tulungagung.
According to service records, AM had been assigned to Koramil Pakel for approximately six months. Notably, AM was previously implicated in a theft case in Trenggalek in 2024 and had only recently been released from military detention (RTM) in early 2025 before being arrested again for fresh theft offences.
AM was apprehended by residents and officers whilst attempting to break into a minimarket in Kutoanyar Village, Tulungagung District, in the early hours of Saturday, 7 March. Kodim (Military District Commander) 0807/Tulungagung, Lieutenant Colonel Hanny Galih Satrio, confirmed the incident to the media on Monday, 9 March.
“It is true that an army officer from our unit, AM from Koramil 10 Pakel, committed theft at a supermarket in Tulungagung. He is currently admitted to Bhayangkara Hospital,” Satrio stated.
According to Satrio, AM sustained injuries during his apprehension when caught by residents, who subsequently handed him over to police. AM has been officially transferred to the military police detachment for further investigation. The suspect suffered mild concussion during the arrest process involving civilians and police, which delayed questioning by military investigators until doctors declared his condition stable.
Satrio assured the public that the military institution would maintain full transparency and would not conceal any legal violations committed by service members, particularly given AM’s repeated offence after release from detention.
“There was a similar case in Trenggalek in 2024. He was placed in military detention and released in early 2025. Now this has happened again. We will proceed with due process. We will not cover it up,” Satrio stated.
The Kodim 0807 has not yet provided specific details regarding the total number of crime scenes involving AM. All investigation procedures will be forwarded to the Madiun Military Prosecutor’s Office for determination of further legal action in Military Court.
According to detikJatim, Deputy Commander V/Brawijaya, Lieutenant Colonel Yudo Aji Susanto, stated that the total number of minimarkets and shops burgled remains under investigation. “Preliminary estimates indicate approximately six crime scenes in the Tulungagung and Trenggalek areas,” he explained.
The military has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law and will not tolerate any indisciplinary or criminal actions by its personnel. “We show no favouritism. Whoever is at fault must face the consequences,” Susanto stated.
The minimarket and shop burglaries occurred in succession across Tulungagung and Trenggalek, with the perpetrator employing various methods to gain entry, including breaking through roofs and walls.