Citizens Foil Snatch Theft Attempt in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A group of residents successfully foiled a snatch theft by two men in the Tanjung Duren area, Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta, on Tuesday evening.

The incident went viral on social media through a video showing a crowd surrounding and attacking the two suspects, identified by the initials RA and AF.

Alexander Tengbunan, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Grogol Petamburan Police Station, stated that a report was received from residents around 9:30 PM Western Indonesia Time regarding the gold necklace snatching carried out by the two men riding a motorcycle.

“During the incident, the two suspects were riding a motorcycle together, then passed by and snatched the victim’s necklace, causing the victim to be shocked and shout, ‘thief, thief,’” Alexander said when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to him, the victim’s shouts were heard by nearby residents and several online motorcycle taxi drivers, who immediately pursued the two suspects.

During the chase, the two suspects fell off their motorcycle and were immediately attacked by the mob before being taken by police officers to the Grogol Petamburan Police Station.

“At that moment, the community helped each other to secure the perpetrators, and we immediately went to the crime scene to apprehend them and bring them to the police station headquarters,” Alexander stated.

“One of them is in quite a bad condition, judging from his injuries. He is battered and bruised, with many injuries around his face, while the other one is not too bad. He didn’t get hit by the mob as much, only minor injuries,” Alexander revealed.

His party also secured evidence in the form of the motorcycle used by the suspects during the snatch theft.

However, he said the gold necklace obtained from the snatching is suspected to have been discarded by the suspects while fleeing.

“He has admitted his actions, but the executor has not yet been able to give a statement due to the severity of his injuries,” Alexander disclosed.

As of now, both suspects are still undergoing treatment at a clinic, so their full identities, including their ages, have not yet been confirmed by the police.