Six Robbery Suspects Arrested, Claim Motives Were Economic Needs and Drug Purchases

Six theft and mugging suspects operating within the jurisdiction of Polda Metro Jaya were arrested. The suspects claimed they committed crimes to meet economic needs and to buy drugs.

The motive disclosed from the suspects’ interrogation was that one sought to meet his economic needs, while others used the proceeds to buy drugs, according to Kombes Iman Imanuddin, head of Dirkrimum Polda Metro Jaya, on Thursday, 21 May 2026.

The suspects underwent urine tests after arrest. Some tested positive for drugs.

‘Because some of those arrested were also examined or subjected to urine tests, their urine tested positive for amphetamine,’ he explained.

Two suspects were shot in the leg for resisting arrest. One of those arrested was the thief who stole a mobile phone from a child filming a bus in Ciputat, South Tangerang. The video of the theft had gone viral on social media. ‘Today we arrested six suspects whose cases had also gone viral on social media. As we know, one of them occurred in Ciputat, where a child was filming a bus when the thief took the phone,’ Iman said.

He noted that a number of evidences were seized from the suspects, including a firearm used in their operations. ‘Among the six suspects we secured, we also confiscated several pieces of evidence, including a firearm used by the perpetrators,’ he added.

In addition to the Ciputat incident, the other five suspects were arrested after crimes in Jakarta and Depok.

Police used decisive, proportionate force, shooting the legs of those who resisted arrest. Two mugging suspects were subjected to this measure.

All six were taken to Mapolda Metro Jaya for further investigation. Iman said the suspects face up to 15 years in prison.

‘The six suspects were charged under Articles 477, 478, 479 of the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP), and Article 306 of KUHP, with a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment,’ he concluded.