Power Bank Thief in West Jakarta Beaten by Mob, Mistaken for Robber

JAKARTA — A man was severely beaten by a mob after stealing a power bank on Jalan Daan Mogot in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Friday (22 May 2026).

West Jakarta Metropolitan Police Public Relations Chief AKP Wisnu Wirawan said the incident occurred around 11.30pm.

“The incident happened yesterday, Friday the 22nd around 11.30pm. The location was Jalan Daan Mogot in Cengkareng, West Jakarta,” Wisnu said when contacted by phone on Monday (25 May 2026).

“No, it was theft only. Not robbery; the suspect did not carry any weapons,” Wisnu said.

The incident began when the suspect saw a blue Honda Beat motorcycle parked by the roadside. A power bank was on the motorcycle, prompting the suspect to steal it. Residents then shouted “robber!” at the suspect.

“So he passed by, there was a blue Honda Beat parked by the road. There was a power bank on it. The power bank was pulled out and taken, but it got stuck or something; I’m not sure. Then people shouted, and the crowd started beating him,” Wisnu explained.

Police on patrol witnessed the incident and immediately took the suspect to the West Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters.

As a result of the mob’s attack, the suspect sustained injuries all over his body and was taken to hospital.

“For initial follow-up, the man was taken directly to Tarakan Hospital for medical treatment due to head injuries,” he said.

“Subsequently, a urine test was conducted and the result was positive for methamphetamine,” Wisnu said.

Wisnu urged the public to be cautious when sharing information on social media, particularly unverified crime reports, to prevent panic.

This includes reporting incidents of robbery that turn out to be untrue, as in this case.

“The public is urged to verify information before sharing it on social media to avoid causing fear and unrest in the community,” Wisnu said.