Seven Fishermen Arrested for Stealing Stainless Steel from Suramadu Bridge Support Piles

Police have uncovered a case of theft involving protective stainless steel beams from support piles at the Suramadu Bridge in East Java, with seven suspects arrested in connection with the crime.

According to reports from detikJatim on Sunday, 15 March 2026, Ipda Agung Intama, the public relations chief of Bangkalan Police, stated that the arrests began after members of the public reported suspicious activity involving fishing boats beneath the Suramadu Bridge in the early morning hours.

“Members of the public reported activity involving fishing boats at approximately 3 a.m. beneath the Suramadu Bridge,” Agung explained.

The Water Police (Satpolairud) subsequently attended the location to monitor the situation. The suspects allegedly became aware of the officers’ arrival and attempted to halt their activities and flee the scene.

Officers then pursued the suspects’ boat until they managed to stop it. Police subsequently discovered four stainless steel protective beams from the Suramadu Bridge support piles aboard the suspects’ vessel.

“During an inspection aboard the boat, officers discovered four stainless steel protective beams from the Suramadu Bridge support piles. Each beam was found to weigh approximately 120 kilogrammes,” Agung stated.