Police arrest two for stealing friend's motorcycle in West Jakarta

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Tamansari Metro Police has arrested two men, identified by the initials S (38) and H (40), for making off with a friend’s motorcycle in the Mapar area of Tamansari, West Jakarta. Tamansari Metro Police Chief, Commissioner Bobby M. Zulfikar, revealed that the motive behind the two-wheeler motor vehicle theft was purely economic desperation. “The background is economic need. Based on our examination, suspects H and S needed money to pay their boarding house rent,” he told reporters in Jakarta on Friday. Commissioner Bobby explained the theft was carried out using a borrowing ploy. Suspect S, who had a long-standing friendship with the victim, pretended he wanted to borrow the motorcycle. However, before returning it, the motorcycle was first tampered with using a specific key to make it appear as though the engine was dead or damaged. After S returned the motorcycle to the victim, the other suspect, H, who was already prepared at the location, immediately executed the plan and rode off with the bike. Commissioner Bobby added that the act was committed spontaneously without long-term planning, simply upon seeing an opportunity. The relationship between suspect S and the victim had reportedly been very good and free of any conflict. This case occurred purely after suspect H persuaded S to cooperate by exploiting his closeness with the victim. The victim only realised his motorcycle had been taken by his own friend after the police conducted an in-depth investigation and matched various pieces of evidence, including footage from surveillance cameras at the scene. “He wasn’t caught in the act. It was based on police findings, a scientific crime investigation. We then corroborated the existing evidence with the victim, leading to the discovery that the suspect was his friend,” said Commissioner Bobby. The victim’s motorcycle, estimated to be worth IDR 10 million, had been sold by the perpetrators for just over IDR 5 million. Police are currently investigating the recipient who purchased the stolen motorcycle. Thanks to a rapid response from law enforcement, both suspects were apprehended within a short time without resistance. “The incident happened two days ago. Within less than 48 hours, thank God, we managed to secure them,” he said. For their actions, S and H are now detained at the Tamansari Metro Police Headquarters and charged under Article 477 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of over five years’ imprisonment.