Indonesian police arrest two violent robbery gangs in Purwakarta and Surabaya

Police in Indonesia have arrested two separate criminal groups involved in violent robberies and thefts.

In Purwakarta, West Java, the Satreskrim Polres Purwakarta apprehended four suspects, identified by the initials S, AF, R, and IN, following reports of robberies in the Cikumpay rubber plantation area. The group targeted residents passing through the secluded area, using sickles to intimidate victims. One recent victim, a traveling merchant, had over Rp8 million and a mobile phone stolen. Authorities seized sickles, knives, drug paraphernalia, cash, and motorcycles during the arrests.

In East Java, the Sukolilo Police arrested four members of a robbery gang operating in Surabaya and Sidoarjo. The group, which includes two recidivists, is linked to at least 10 crime scenes, including two incidents that resulted in the deaths of victims who fell from their vehicles. The gang utilized a coordinated tactic involving two motorcycles: one for the execution of the theft and a second acting as a ‘sweeper’ to block witnesses or victims from pursuing the perpetrators.