Central Jakarta Police Arrest Two Pickpockets in Dutch National's Phone Theft

Central Jakarta Police have arrested two pickpockets who stole a mobile phone belonging to a Dutch national at Tanah Abang Station in Gambir.

Following the investigation, the suspects’ identities were confirmed, leading to their arrest in Palmerah, West Jakarta, said Central Jakarta Police Chief Kombes Pol Reynold Hutagalung on Saturday.

He said the police acted swiftly after receiving the victim’s report of a pickpocketing incident on Monday afternoon (25 May). The victim, identified as Dutch national Hoesein Ali Edgar, was pickpocketed in front of Tanah Abang Station on Jati Baru Raya Street, Cideng Village, Gambir Subdistrict, Central Jakarta, around 1:50 PM WIB.

Reynold explained that the arrested suspects, identified as DD (43) and AP (36), had a black backpack and a silver Samsung A34 headphone seized as evidence. “Upon receiving the report, officers immediately conducted investigations by interviewing witnesses near the scene,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gambir Police Station Chief AKBP Agus Adi Wijaya said the operational team pursued the suspects to their boarding house in Jati Pulo, Palmerah. “The suspects were apprehended at their boarding house in Jati Pulo after officers confirmed their descriptions based on investigation findings and CCTV footage,” he said.

Agus added that both suspects were taken to Gambir Police Station for further questioning and charged under Article 476 of the Criminal Code for theft. Subsequently, the evidence was returned to the victim, who praised the police’s swift handling of the case. “We are still investigating whether the suspects may have committed similar offences at other locations,” he added.