West Jakarta Mall Security Guard Stole Groceries for Months Due to Online Gambling Addiction

A man identified by the initial I (44) has been arrested by police for stealing groceries from the supermarket where he worked as a security guard. The perpetrator had been stealing for months due to an addiction to online gambling.

“The stolen goods were then resold, and the proceeds were used to meet his family’s needs and to play online gambling,” said Tambora Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Sudrajat Djumantara on Friday (19/6/2026).

I worked as a security guard at a supermarket in the Tambora area of West Jakarta. Based on the police investigation, the perpetrator exploited his position as an employee to carry out the thefts without arousing suspicion.

It emerged that suspect I had committed theft repeatedly. The thefts came to light when the supermarket management became suspicious of the perpetrator’s movements, which were deemed unusual.

“The investigation results show that the perpetrator had been carrying out his actions since February 2026, or for about five months,” said Sudrajat.

The supermarket management then conducted surveillance and an internal investigation. They found evidence of the alleged thefts committed by the perpetrator and subsequently reported him to the police.

Following up on the report, the Tambora Police Criminal Investigation Unit immediately launched an investigation and gathered a number of pieces of evidence. To the police, I admitted to his repeated actions, exploiting lapses in situational awareness at his workplace.

“His modus operandi was to collect various grocery items into a basket, then store them in his personal locker before taking them out at the end of his shift,” he added.

Suspect I is being detained at Tambora Police station for further legal processing. For his actions, the perpetrator is charged under Article 476 of the Criminal Code concerning the crime of theft.