PONOROGO - The Criminal Investigation Team (Satreskrim) of the Ponorogo Police arrested a man with the initials LB (30) who allegedly stole charity boxes at 26 mosques and prayer rooms in Ponorogo Regency, East Java.
The Head of the General Criminal Investigation Unit of the Ponorogo Police, Ipda Bambang Santoso, in Ponorogo, Friday, said the suspect was arrested in Slahung District on June 23, 2026 when he was allegedly about to return to commit a theft.
"The suspect is a resident of Madiun Regency who is currently residing in Slahung District. We secured him when he was going to commit another theft," said Bambang as reported by ANTARA, Friday, June 26.
Based on the results of the examination, the suspect admitted that he carried out his actions with a colleague who is now on the wanted list (DPO).
The police recorded 26 mosques and prayer rooms as targets of theft in the last two months. The locations of the incidents were spread across a number of sub-districts, including Bungkal, Jambon, Sambit, Sawoo, and several other areas.
According to Bambang, the suspect acted during the day and in the afternoon, namely after Zuhur prayer until before the Asar prayer when the condition of the place of worship was relatively quiet.
The perpetrator broke into the charity box using a screwdriver in less than five minutes. From dozens of actions, the suspect admitted to receiving around IDR 10 million.
The police confiscated evidence in the form of three jackets, a black bag, a charity box, screwdrivers, mobile phones, helmets, and motorcycles used by the suspects during the action.
For his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 447 paragraph (1) letters f and g of the Criminal Code concerning theft with a threat of imprisonment for a maximum of seven years.
Currently, the suspect is being held at the Ponorogo Police, while another perpetrator is still being sought.
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