Three Repeat Offenders Arrested for Jamming ATM Machines with Toothpicks
The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Tasikmalaya City Police has arrested three repeat offenders belonging to a cross-province syndicate that committed theft by jamming automated teller machines (ATMs). The arrests were made in Kadungora District, Garut Regency, after the three suspects carried out their crime at a bank ATM in the Asia Plaza shopping centre in Tasikmalaya City.
"The arrests, carried out by officers assisted by the Garut Police, resulted in the capture of three suspects with the initials AR, ES, and AV, all residents of Palembang. The three suspects were successfully apprehended in the Kadungora area, Garut Regency, and all were taken to the Tasikmalaya City Police for questioning," said AKP Januar Rangga Fardhela on Thursday (9/7).
The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Tasikmalaya City Police, AKP Januar Rangga Fardhela, stated that the action was taken following a report from a victim who was a bank customer. According to Januar, the three suspects admitted to having carried out ATM jamming thefts in various regions across provinces, including outside Java. They used prepared toothpicks and waited around the ATM to find victims who were about to withdraw money.
"The three suspects travelled from Palembang to commit theft by jamming ATM machines and brought several toothpicks they had prepared," he said. Januar added that the three ATM jamming suspects had specific roles when committing the crime. The suspect with the initials ES was tasked with jamming the card slot of the ATM machine using a piece of toothpick, while AR and AV waited around the ATM room to find victims who were about to withdraw money.
"We seized evidence including one car, toothpicks, and 58 ATM cards from various banks. They are charged under Article 447 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 17 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code for attempted theft, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison," he concluded.