Three Arrested in Depok for Robbery Using Dating App to Lure Victims

Police have arrested three robbery suspects operating in the Depok area of West Java. In their crimes, the perpetrators exploited a same-sex dating application called ‘Hornet’.

The robbery spree began with the idea of a suspect with the initials AH, who created an account on the application using someone else’s identity. AH then sought out and profiled potential targets.

“Once the perpetrator was confident, AH invited the victim to meet, picking them up near their boarding house or home. AH then carried the victim on a motorbike to a secluded place, usually in a cemetery or the surrounding area,” said Chief of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Depok Metropolitan Police, AKBP Made Gede Oka Utama, speaking to journalists on Monday (27/7).

At the designated location, two other suspects, KA and S, were already waiting. Once the victim arrived, the two immediately sprang into action.

“The other perpetrators were behind, ambushing and dragging the victim by knocking them down, seizing the victim’s belongings, then assaulting the victim, tying them up with rope and adhesive tape, and leaving the victim after draining them of their valuables,” said Made.

Made revealed that the perpetrators’ actions were exceptionally brutal. One victim was beaten by the perpetrators and left at a cemetery with their clothes stripped off.

“The victim was ultimately left alone at the crime scene with their hands tied and mouth sealed with tape,” he said.

The perpetrators’ crime spree was finally exposed after one of the victims reported it to the authorities. Following an investigation, police managed to arrest all three suspects in the Cilodong area of Depok on Sunday (26/7).

The investigation revealed that the three perpetrators had carried out their crimes three times: in Cilodong on Monday (20/7), in Tapos District on Friday (24/7), and most recently in Jatimulya on Saturday (24/7).

The three suspects have now been named and detained. For their actions, they have been charged under Article 479 of the Criminal Code concerning theft with violence, which carries a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.