Repeated Thefts of Project Lights on Ring Road During Jogja-Solo Toll Road Construction

Lighting equipment in the area of the Jogja-Solo Toll Road Project Package 2.2 on the Northern Ring Road, Kronggahan, Sleman District, has been repeatedly reported missing due to theft by unknown individuals. These thefts have been occurring for some time, with the most recent incident taking place this morning.

Agung Murhandjanto, Public Relations Officer for PT Adhi Karya’s Jogja-Solo Toll Road Project, stated that the lights serve as essential safety equipment for motorists and construction workers during nighttime operations. This is particularly important since the public street lighting (PJU) has already been removed by the contractor.

“Our lights have gone missing several times. We appeal to the community for their understanding, as these lights are vital for the safety and security of motorists at night,” Agung told journalists on Tuesday (17 March 2026).

He explained that the stolen lights are located both in the middle of the Ring Road and within the project area. The theft incidents have been ongoing since before Ramadan, with at least eight thefts recorded. “There have been several incidents before the Lebaran period, particularly in the Ring Road area. Of the eight incidents, approximately six occurred on the Ring Road and two within the project site. The most serious incident happened this morning,” he said.

Agung also highlighted the dangerous method employed by the thieves when removing the lights. The cable is simply cut despite having active electrical current flowing through it.

“Irresponsible individuals taking these lights also do so dangerously, cutting the cables directly without considering that there is still electrical current running through them,” he explained.

Agung noted that security personnel have been stationed throughout the project area each night. However, the perpetrators exploit moments of inattention from the guards to steal the lights.

“The security staff is spread thin across the site. As you know, thieves look for opportunities when the guards are distracted. So they just keep taking them and cutting the cables,” he said.

Agung stated that the total losses from the stolen lights amount to approximately tens of millions of rupiah. However, the contractor does not plan to file a police report in the immediate future, as they are currently focused on ensuring safety during the Lebaran exodus.

“The value is approximately 50 million rupiah. We are not reporting it yet, as we are focusing on securing the Lebaran traffic flow,” he asserted.

Nevertheless, the contractor expressed hope for support from security authorities to prevent further thefts.

“We call on all stakeholders and interested parties in the Sleman region and Yogyakarta Special Region to pay attention to and help prevent these repeated thefts of our lighting equipment,” he concluded.