A Gang Of 30 AC Thieves In Samarinda Arrested, Crime Proceeds For Online Gambling

SAMARINDA - Samarinda City Police (Polresta) revealed a theft case of around 30 units of Air Conditioner (AC) that disturbed residents of Bankingan City, Samarinda City with stolen money used for online gambling purposes and buying drugs.

Samarinda Police Chief Kombes Hendri Umar explained the operation to arrest the three suspects involved in the AC crime.

The disclosure of this case stems from many public reports about the loss of AC units in various locations in Samarinda.

"The Jatanras Opsnal Team of the Samarinda Police immediately moved quickly to carry out an investigation and succeeded in identifying three suspects, namely FS (29), MF (32), and AS (56)," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 5.

FS and MF, who were the main perpetrators of the theft, he said, carried out their actions with a planned modus operandi.

They tour the city at night, between 00.00 WITA and dawn, using motorbikes to find targets. Houses and shops that look empty or unguarded are their main targets.

Using equipment such as stab keys, cut tang, and machetes, FS and MF released the AC unit from its place. The stolen goods were then taken to their place of residence.

"Based on the confession, both of them have acted in 16 different locations in the last few months," he said.

The stolen air conditioning goods were sold to the US, a collector operating on Jalan Damanhuri, Samaribda, and each unit was valued at IDR 300,000.

"From the results of the development of this case, the police managed to secure 34 stolen air conditioning units," he said.

Hendri revealed that FS and MF used their proceeds of crime for various purposes, including playing online gambling and buying methamphetamine.

Meanwhile, the US admitted to using the stolen AC sales money to meet the needs of families and business capital.

Suspects FS and MF were charged with Article 363 of the Criminal Code concerning theft by weight, with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

Meanwhile, the US is subject to Article 480 of the Criminal Code on detention, with a maximum penalty of four years in prison.