Tragic Tale of Elderly Nasi Uduk Seller Unable to Resume Business After Theft

A man stole the trading capital of an elderly nasi uduk (coconut rice) seller in what has become a viral case on social media.

The victim, Atnah (65), sells food alone every day. She cooks from the early hours of the morning and continues selling until daylight.

The profits from selling nasi uduk and lontong sayur (rice cake with vegetable curry) are modest, yet both her capital and earnings were taken by the perpetrator.

The theft occurred on Tuesday (17 February) at approximately 07:30 Western Indonesian Time on Jalan Bulak Tinggi, Pondok Melati, Bekasi City. At that location, Atnah sells nasi uduk and lontong sayur, which she prepares at her home roughly 350 metres away.

Video Goes Viral on Social Media

A video of the man stealing Atnah’s money went viral on social media. Police are now investigating the case.

In the circulating footage, the perpetrator can be seen diverting the elderly woman’s attention by ordering nasi uduk. While she was wrapping his order, the perpetrator stole her money from a biscuit tin.

The suspect is believed to have already known where Atnah kept her sales earnings. He moved behind the elderly woman as she was preparing the nasi uduk.

The perpetrator then shifted the biscuit tin and took the money inside. The masked man subsequently fled on a motorbike while Atnah was still preparing his order.

Money Stolen, Unable to Continue Selling

Atnah said she can no longer sell food because the money from her nasi uduk and lontong sayur sales has been stolen.

“What was lost was my capital and profits. I’m no longer selling because I have no capital,” Atnah said on Friday (20 February 2026).

The Rp 700,000 she had painstakingly accumulated little by little was gone. She recounted the incident to Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto, who visited her on Thursday (19 February).

When the perpetrator arrived and ordered nasi uduk, Atnah said she had no suspicion whatsoever. She immediately set about fulfilling his order of four packets of nasi uduk.

The perpetrator exploited the elderly woman’s lack of vigilance. Without any compassion, he took all of Atnah’s money stored in the biscuit tin.

“I was wrapping the order and didn’t see. Suddenly the man just took my money. When I checked, my money was already gone,” Atnah said.

Atnah earns her living by selling nasi uduk and lontong sayur. Working alone, she begins cooking at 01:00 in the early hours at her home in RT 04 RW 03, Jatiwarna sub-district.

When the nasi uduk and lontong are ready for sale, at around 05:00, Atnah walks approximately 350 metres to her selling location, carrying her wares by hand.

Police Investigate the Case

Police are pursuing the theft investigation. Officers visited the elderly nasi uduk seller, but the victim has accepted the loss of her stolen money.

“Information from the Criminal Investigation Unit Head at Pondok Gede Police Sector indicates that the victim is unwilling to file a report and has accepted the loss,” said Bekasi Metropolitan Police Public Relations Officer AKP Suparyono.

Although the victim has not filed a police report, officers are nevertheless proceeding with the investigation. Police have taken statements from witnesses and gathered evidence related to the case.

“Preliminary steps have been taken. It is being handled by Pondok Gede Police Sector,” he said.

Police have also secured CCTV recordings for investigative purposes. The identity of the man who stole the elderly woman’s money is still being examined.

Pretending to Buy Nasi Uduk

Police revealed that the perpetrator pretended to buy four packets of nasi uduk. The order turned out to be entirely fictitious.

The perpetrator intended to divert the victim’s attention so he could steal her trading money.

“Without the victim’s knowledge, the perpetrator entered the stall, pretending to open the rice container, then checked the tin containing the victim’s sales earnings,” Suparyono said.

The perpetrator then took the money. When the victim went to hand over his order, the suspect had already fled with the cash.

“After successfully taking the money, the perpetrator immediately fled. When the victim wanted to give the perpetrator his order, he was already gone, and the sales money the victim had stored in the tin was also gone,” he concluded.