Police Uncover Several Prominent Cases During Ramadan in Tangerang

Several cases uncovered were dominated by violent theft (curas) to motorcycle theft rings (curanmor), including a syndicate disguising themselves as debt collectors. Tangerang City Metro Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Raden Muhammad Jauhari, emphasised that these revelations represent the police’s seriousness in maintaining public security during Ramadan. “We will not give space to criminals, especially in the holy month. Every criminal act that disturbs the public will be firmly addressed,” he said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Thursday. The first case occurred on Jalan Raden Saleh, Ciledug, where Jauhari explained that the victim, waiting for a friend in front of a shophouse, was approached by three perpetrators. “One perpetrator brandished a machete, while another directly seized the victim’s motorcycle,” he said. The second case took place in an illegal parking area outside Tangerang City Mall, where the perpetrator exploited the victim’s carelessness in not locking the motorcycle’s handlebars. The perpetrator pushed the motorcycle to a key maker and created a duplicate under the pretext of lost keys. In less than six hours, police arrested the perpetrator RS and the receiver CH as they were about to transact. For the third case, a network of receivers for motorcycles stolen with firearms was successfully uncovered. Police arrested one receiver with initials R who stored three stolen motorcycles. From further investigation, this network had sold at least 20 motorcycles to Lampung using a rented car, and four main perpetrators are still being pursued. “While the victim was about to perform Subuh prayer, the perpetrators immediately grabbed and strangled him until he fainted. The perpetrators fled with jewellery and cash totalling losses of around Rp200 million,” he said. Subsequently, officers arrested the perpetrator RS and the receiver HA, and seized several pieces of evidence, including gold and money from sales. The final case involved a syndicate disguising themselves as ‘debt collectors’. The perpetrators stopped victims on the road and accused them of defaulting on instalments. “If the victim refuses, the perpetrators resort to violence. One victim was even stabbed in the thigh and beaten until his teeth broke,” he said. Officers successfully arrested seven suspects consisting of five executors and two receivers. From the perpetrators’ hands, 12 motorcycles and sharp weapons were secured. “This modus operandi is very dangerous because the perpetrators disguise themselves as official parties. If you experience something like this, immediately report it to the police,” said Jauhari. The suspects are charged with various criminal articles, with potential sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Jauhari also assured that the cases will continue to be developed, including hunting down the still-fugitive perpetrators. “We will pursue them until complete. There is no place for criminals in our jurisdiction,” said Jauhari.