Thief Using Replica iPhone Scam to Steal Motorcycles Arrested in Tebet

The Tebet Sector Police have apprehended a motorcycle thief identified by the initials SFX, also known as Kates, who recently went viral on social media. The suspect operated in the Jalan Tekukur area, Bukit Duri, Tebet, South Jakarta, and subsequently sold the stolen motorcycles to a dealership in North Jakarta.

“The evidence, which had already been sold by the defendant at a dealership, was recovered. It was sold there for Rp 10 million. The location was in North Jakarta, and we managed to retrieve it after the sale,” stated Tebet Police Chief, AKP Ischak, during a press conference at the Tebet Police Station on Tuesday (2/6/2026).

Ischak explained that the suspect had carried out approximately ten thefts using the same modus operandi across South and North Jakarta. The suspect would sell the stolen motorcycles complete with legitimate-looking documentation, including the registration (STNK), ownership book (BPKB), and purchase invoices (faktur).

According to the police, the suspect identified potential victims through Facebook. He would pose as a buyer to initiate contact. During the meeting, the suspect would inspect the vehicle’s documents and then request a test drive. To gain the victim’s trust, he would leave behind a black bag containing two replica smartphones—an iPhone 17 Pro Max and a Samsung Z Fold—as collateral.

Once the victim felt secure and returned to their home, the suspect would place the vehicle’s original documents inside the motorcycle’s seat and flee with the vehicle. The arrest follows viral footage showing the suspect meeting a victim at a local ‘warteg’ (food stall) before the theft occurred.