Sidoarjo Police Nab Cross-Provincial Safe-Cracking Gang

The Sidoarjo Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) has arrested a cross-provincial gang involved in safe-cracking who used firearms during home robberies in Sidoarjo. The group included five suspects: TS (36), FP (42), ABR (40), AW (32), and MJA (28). A sixth suspect, BPB (24), remains a fugitive on the wanted list (DPO). The incident occurred on Wednesday, 21 October 2025, at around 13:10 local time at Perumahan Taman Pinang Indah, Blok E2 No. 12, Sidoarjo. The victim was a 43-year-old woman with initials IES, from CandI district, Sidoarjo. The modus operandi involved knocking or pressing the doorbell; if residents answered, they pretended to ask for directions; if the house appeared vacant, they would break in and steal the safe. One of the perpetrators used bolt cutters to cut the gate lock, then entered the house and took the safe. Some members watched from a car, while others were tasked with lifting the safe. The safe was loaded into a car and the group fled along the Sidoarjo toll road towards Jakarta. According to Kapolresta Sidoarjo Kombes Christian Tobing, the case was uncovered after intensive investigation by Satreskrim following the victim’s report in January 2026. Five suspects were identified: TS (36), FP (42), ABR (40), AW (32), and MJA (28). The sixth suspect, BPB (24), remains at large and is on the police’s wanted list. FP was found to be in possession of a homemade revolver complete with four rounds of calibre 6; the weapon was purchased while the gang was in Lampung. The investigators described the group as operating across regions, targeting empty houses and stealing safes or other valuables. They had circulated from Sumatra to Java in search of targets, and had even operated in other areas before reaching Sidoarjo. In addition to the weapon, police recovered a white Toyota Innova used in the crime, a flash drive containing CCTV footage, and two motorcycles believed to be the fruits of theft. The arrests of the suspects occurred separately: TS was nabbed at his mother’s house in Tanah Jawa district, Simalungun, North Sumatra on 16 February 2026; FP was arrested in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi on 26 February 2026; the other three suspects were handled by Purwakarta Police in West Java. A police statement said the suspects had been in possession of the stolen items. They are currently in custody at Polresta Sidoarjo for further investigation. Under Article 477(e) of the Penal Code (Pencurian dengan pemberatan), the suspects face up to seven years’ imprisonment. The Kapolresta urged residents to heighten vigilance, especially when leaving homes empty, by securing properties, activating CCTV, and reporting suspicious activity to police.