West Jakarta Gold Necklace Snatching Gang Used Proceeds to Buy Drugs
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A gang of gold necklace snatchers in Tamansari, West Jakarta, used the proceeds of their crimes to buy methamphetamine.
Three of the perpetrators, identified by their initials I, N, and D, have been arrested. Three receivers of stolen goods, who worked together to sell the stolen items, have also been arrested; their initials are DN, A, and M.
One other perpetrator, identified by his initials S, who acted as an executor in the field, is still at large.
“The perpetrators’ motive was to meet their economic needs and also to buy drugs,” said the head of the Tamansari Metro Police, Commissioner Bobby M. Zulfikar, at a press conference at the Tamansari Metro Police headquarters on Friday (15/5/2026).
“Why do we say they bought drugs? Because all the perpetrators tested positive for drug use, and we also found drug paraphernalia,” he said.
After carrying out the snatching, the perpetrators handed over the stolen goods to their accomplices, DN and A, who acted as intermediaries.
DN and A then handed the jewellery to M, who worked at a jewellery shop.
“The victim suffered a loss of 3 grams of gold, worth Rp 9 million, which was sold to the receivers for Rp 4.2 million,” he said.
The syndicate of receivers had previously accepted stolen goods from I, N, and D on several occasions.
The head of the Tamansari Metro Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Egy Irwansyah, said that the gang often targeted jewellery because they had connections with receivers.
“In fact, after the snatching, the gold was immediately sold. But we also seized some gold necklaces that were not sold, because it turned out that the necklaces were imitations,” said Egy.
The evidence seized by the police includes receipts for the purchase of 3 grams of gold, a Honda Stylo motorcycle, two machetes, a samurai sword, five cell phones, several imitation gold necklaces, and drug paraphernalia.
The three snatching perpetrators (I, N, D) have been charged under Article 479 of Law Number 1 of 2023, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
“And the receivers (DN, A, M) have been charged under Article 592, which also carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison,” said Bobby.
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