Three Minors Break into Mobile Phone Shops at Padang Mall, Viral CCTV Footage
Three minors in Padang, West Sumatra, were found to have broken into five electronics shops at Plaza Andalas mall. The thefts were recorded by CCTV cameras and subsequently went viral on social media.
Head of Criminal Investigation at Padang Police, Kompol M Yasin, said the suspects were arrested in Padang on Monday night (24/8). All three suspects are minors.
“All three suspects are underage, and for the legal process we are guided by the juvenile criminal justice system,” Yasin said, as reported by Antara on Wednesday (26/8/2026).
The three suspects are AG (10), Ar (14), and Ad (10). In the case, the suspects were reported to have broken into five mobile phone shops in the Plaza Andalas area of Padang.
“Their thefts were carried out at two different times. The victims are five shop owners in the Plaza Andalas area,” he said.
The first theft was carried out by the suspects on Friday, while the second took place in the early hours of Monday (24/8). The items stolen from the shops included new mobile phones, cash, and clothing, with total losses reaching Rp 50 million.
The entire series of criminal acts was recorded by CCTV cameras, which became the main lead for police in identifying the suspects.
Yasin said that after successfully identifying the suspects through CCTV footage, officers immediately pursued them at several locations in Padang, from the Marapalam and Jati areas to Gunung Pangilun, before eventually losing track of them in the Teluk Bayur area.
The pursuit found a breakthrough after Indonesian Navy personnel at Main Naval Base II reported three minors entering the command headquarters area.
Based on coordination with the police, it was confirmed that the three children at Main Naval Base II were the wanted suspects in the theft case, and they were immediately detained.
Police are still investigating the role of each suspect and searching for remaining evidence that has not been found, as some of the items were admitted by the suspects to have been sold, while the cash was used to buy a motorcycle.