2 Perpetrators Of Theft Of Elpiji And Basic Food Specialists Arrested By Garut Police, 2 Others Still At Large

The police showed evidence and suspects in cases of theft and violence during a press conference at the Garut Police Headquarters, West Java, Wednesday (5/3/2025). ANTARA/Feri Purnama.

Garut Resort Police is working on the theft of gas cylinder specialists who have been operating across cities in West Java, by arresting two perpetrators.

"They are specialists in theft for basic necessities and gas cylinders," said Head of the Garut Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Joko Prihatin when releasing the case at the Garut Police Headquarters, Antara, Wednesday, March 5.

The theft is known to have been carried out in a number of areas such as Pangandaran, Majalengka, and Cirebon Regencies.

Then finally they carried out violent theft at the Garut Ma's SPBE soem Jalan Raya Bandung-Garut, Banyuresmi District, Garut, February 27, 2025.

After receiving the theft report, the police immediately processed the crime scene, then pursued the four perpetrators.

He said that in the pursuit he managed to arrest the initials NN (54) in Sukabumi City, then the initials WP aged (39) was arrested by Garut Regency, while two more people were declared fugitives from the Garut Police.

"We have arrested the two perpetrators involved in this theft, and two other perpetrators are still being chased," he said.

He said the suspect was a recidivist of the same case who had been carrying out his actions by taking valuables and gas cylinders in various places such as agents and SPBE for further sale by them.

Like the action taken in Garut, he said, the perpetrators came to SPBE Garut-Bandung Street when conditions were quiet in the early hours of the morning, then threatened and violence against employees who were on guard.

After successfully paralyzing employees, the perpetrator then stole valuables belonging to the company and employees such as motorbikes, gas cylinders, and other goods.

"Four unknown people who used masks then arrested witnesses and threatened to use sharp weapons, suspected of being firearms, after successfully locking the victims, then the perpetrator took the property belonging to the company and witnesses," he said.

He said the evidence that was secured from the perpetrators was 139 5 kilogram gas cylinders, two units of Daihatsu Granmax four-wheeled vehicles, a Yamaha Jupiter MX motorcycle and other equipment such as sharp weapons used to commit their crimes.

The incident, said Joko, caused material losses of Rp. 58 million in the form of gas cylinders, company money, cell phones, and two-wheeled vehicles belonging to employees.

As a result of his actions, the two suspects languished in the Garut Police Detention Center to undergo further legal proceedings, and were charged with Article 365 of the Criminal Code concerning violent theft with a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.