Woman in West Jakarta Arrested for Stealing 2.6 Million Rupiah from Minimarket to Buy Eid Clothes
A woman with initials IPS, age 22, has been arrested by police for theft at a minimarket in Tambora, West Jakarta. The suspect stole 2.6 million rupiah by posing as a customer.
“The suspect carried out her actions by pretending to be a shopper,” said the Head of Criminal Investigation at Tambora Police Substation, West Jakarta Metro Police, Senior Police Commissioner Sudrajat, in his statement on Thursday (12 March 2026).
The theft occurred on Tuesday (10 March) at a minimarket on Soksi Street, Tanah Sereal Village, Tambora District, West Jakarta. The suspect ordered a significant quantity of goods to keep shop staff busy retrieving items from the warehouse.
The suspect initially ordered one carton of instant noodles and several packets of herbal drinks. She then added another carton of noodles and asked questions about TapCash card contents, keeping the staff occupied. While the employee was busy collecting the ordered goods, the suspect approached the cashier counter and reached into the cash drawer.
“From her actions, the suspect successfully took 2.6 million rupiah,” he stated.
A minimarket employee grew suspicious after noticing the suspect’s hand movements inside the cash register drawer. The employee requested colleagues’ assistance to detain the suspect and check her belongings before police were summoned to the location.
The Head of Criminal Investigation, Senior Police Commissioner Sudrajat Djumantara, accompanied by Criminal Investigation Officer First Lieutenant Priyo Purnomo, said they arrived promptly following a public report. Officers immediately secured the suspect without resistance.
“The suspect was successfully apprehended without any struggle. From preliminary questioning, the suspect admitted to carrying out similar thefts approximately five times across West Jakarta and North Jakarta,” he explained.
The suspect had previously been caught by minimarket staff in the Pademangan area, North Jakarta. However, on that occasion she was not prosecuted legally as the shop staff felt sympathy for her.
“The suspect confessed to police that she resorted to theft due to economic hardship. She also admitted needing money to purchase new clothing and meet expenses ahead of Eid al-Fitr,” he concluded.