Lanyard-Wearing Thief at Luxury Jakarta Hotel Specialised in Posing as Office Worker

Police have revealed new details regarding NW (43), the perpetrator of thefts at five-star hotels in the Karet area of Central Jakarta. According to police, NW was a specialist thief whose modus operandi involved disguising himself as an office worker.

“The perpetrator specialised in a method of posing as an office worker, wearing batik and a lanyard, then blending into the luxury hotel environment,” said Jakarta Metropolitan Police Public Relations Division Head Commissioner Budi Hermanto to reporters on Wednesday (18/2/2026).

Budi further explained that the suspect operated alone. He stated that based on preliminary investigations, the suspect claimed not to have any accomplices.

“Based on preliminary examination results, the perpetrator acted alone and to date no indications of involvement by other parties have been found,” Budi explained.

The theft committed by NW took place on Tuesday (10/2) at approximately 12.41 local time. The act was captured on the hotel’s CCTV cameras.

Police subsequently succeeded in apprehending the suspect, identified as a man with the initials NW (43).

“The Mobile Criminal Investigation Sub-directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Directorate arrested a man with the initials NW (43), suspected of committing thefts at a number of luxury hotels in Jakarta,” said Jakarta Metropolitan Police Public Relations Division Head Commissioner Budi Hermanto on Monday (16/2).

Laptop and Lanyard Seized

The suspect was arrested on Friday (13/2) in the Matraman area of East Jakarta after his identity was uncovered. A number of items of evidence were also secured during the arrest.

“Police seized a number of items of evidence, including one laptop belonging to the victim, a lanyard, sunglasses, a black bag, a batik shirt, jeans, and shoes that were used during the commission of the crime,” he disclosed.