Man Caught Red-Handed Stealing Mobile Phone from Iktikaf Worshippers at Istiqlal Mosque

A man identified as WRD (40) has been caught stealing a mobile phone belonging to a worshipper at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. WRD stole the phone using a swift and unexpected method.

The theft occurred at dawn on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. WRD stole the phone belonging to RJK (19), a student from Matraman, East Jakarta.

WRD took the victim’s belongings in a single act, striking just as the victim was about to leave the main prayer hall of Istiqlal Mosque. However, the victim immediately realised their phone had been stolen and quickly pursued the perpetrator.

“The complainant felt pushed, and then just a few steps away, the complainant realised that their phone, which was stored in the right pocket of their robe, was missing,” said Sawah Besar Police Station Chief Kompol Rahmat Himawan on Tuesday.

The victim RJK then chased WRD who had pushed him. At that moment, WRD had already placed the victim’s phone into a black totebag which he then attempted to conceal.

“The black totebag that was initially held by the alleged perpetrator contained the complainant’s phone, which was then thrown by the perpetrator, but before it was thrown the complainant managed to retrieve their phone,” he said.

The moment the perpetrator was caught stealing attracted the attention of worshippers at Istiqlal Mosque. The perpetrator was then escorted by angry worshippers.

The incident was recorded on video by one of the worshippers at Istiqlal Mosque and the video went viral on social media. WRD was subsequently secured by Istiqlal security personnel before being handed over to Sawah Besar Police Station.

A suspect accused of theft has been arrested by worshippers at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. The man was caught stealing belongings from worshippers who were observing iktikaf (spiritual seclusion).

M Asdar, Director of Istiqlal’s Media Development Institute, stated that the perpetrator has been handed over to Sawah Besar Police Station for legal proceedings.

“After I confirmed it happened at Istiqlal, the perpetrator has been turned over to the authorities,” Asdar told detik.com.

The perpetrator targeted valuable items belonging to worshippers engaged in iktikaf during the final ten nights of Ramadan.

“Yes, it’s true (targeting iktikaf worshippers). And there is indeed an opportunity when worshippers are asleep. Bags or unattended items are easily taken by thieves because they specifically target worshippers’ belongings,” he said.