East Java Police Arrest Minimarket Thief Gang In 4 Regions

The police showed evidence confiscated from a gang of perpetrators of theft and minimarket violence in a number of areas when releasing the case at the East Java Police Headquarters, Surabaya, Thursday (6/11/2025). (ANTARA/Willi Irawan)

The East Java Regional Police Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) arrested a gang of violent theft perpetrators who acted in a number of minimarkets in four districts.

"The perpetrator and this gang have traced a series of theft reports in minimarkets in Magetan, Lamongan, Nganjuk, and Tuban areas. There were four police reports that were successfully uncovered, all involving the same group," said Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police Kombes Jules Abraham Abast in Surabaya, Thursday, November 6.

The four crime scenes (TKP) occurred on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at the minimarket on Jalan Raya Solo 'Maospati, Magetan Regency, and in Paron Village, Nganjuk Regency, on the same day.

A similar action also took place on Jalan Raya Babat, Lamongan Regency on Sunday, September 7, 2025, and on Jalan Yos Sudarso, Tuban District, Monday, September 8, 2025.

The two perpetrators who were arrested each had the initials SD alias Ameng (43), a resident of Sumber District, Cirebon Regency, West Java, and HK (34), a resident of Demak Regency, Central Java.

The other two, with the initials I and D, are still being chased and have been on the wanted list (DPO).

From the results of the investigation, the police secured evidence in the form of a car, two machetes, two backpacks, two rolled red duct tape, and a motor vehicle owner's book (BPKB).

"The mode used by the perpetrators is to target minimarkets that are quiet, usually only two employees are guarded and there are no other visitors," he said.

They took money from cashier drawers and safes, as well as stealing cigarettes of various expensive brands.

In the action, this group carried two machetes and one modified type of pen gun homemade firearm resembling a gun.

The weapon was made by HK perpetrators who are known to have the ability to assemble independently.

"The HK perpetrator already has a high flight time. Based on police records, he has been in and out of prison four times with similar cases," he added.

The two perpetrators are known to operate across provinces. In a day, this group is able to carry out actions in two to three different locations.

They rented a car, then moved from one crime scene to another, even to outside East Java. After taking action in Lamongan and Tuban, they are also known to have acted in the Rembang and Lasem areas, Central Java," he said.

The proceeds of crime are used for lifestyle and buying drugs. In every action, the perpetrators can get between Rp. 20 million and Rp. 40 million in cash, not including the proceeds from the sale of stolen cigarettes.

For their actions, the two suspects were charged with Article 365 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) concerning violent theft, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

"This case is still being developed to hunt down two other DPOs and reveal the possibility of other networks outside East Java," he said.