The Buffalo Thief That Makes Pandeglang Residents Uneasy Finally Arrested

Pandeglang Police carried out a case of theft of buffalo cattle which has often occurred since February/ Photo: Doc. Pandeglang Police

PANDEGLANG - During February 2022, there was an increasing trend of theft of livestock in the Pandeglang area, Banten. Pandeglang Police Chief AKBP Belny Warlansyah, there has been an increase in reports from residents of the loss of livestock. Responding to this, the Chief of Police gave special attention to immediately take a firm stance.

"Of course, we need to pay attention to this condition and get special attention or handling," said Belny Warlansyah in a statement received by the editor, Wednesday, March 2, evening.

From the results of the investigation, it was found that four people have now been named as suspects in the case of theft of livestock. They have the initials AM (53), AE (65), SM (33), and DD (35), who are known to work together to find the target of buffalo species.

Belny said that the targets of the suspects were buffalo which were kept in cages or outside the cage, by opening the tied rope.

"After successfully untying the buffalo, the suspects led the animal and got it into a pickup that had been prepared in advance," said Belny.

Then, the suspects sold the stolen buffalo to a collector or suspect AD (41), in the Tigaraksa area, Tangerang Regency.

“The stolen buffalo are sold at a price range of eight million to ten million. Of course their goal is to make a profit,” said Belny.

Belny also explained that the suspects acted in 20 locations from 3 regencies, namely Pandeglang Regency, Lebak Regency, and Serang Regency. From the hands of five suspects, 5 buffalo were also secured as evidence.

"In Lebak Regency there are 3 TKP in Warunggunung District and Serang Regency there is 1 TKP in Baros District, with a total of 20 TKP," he explained.

Meanwhile, the police also arrested a dealer with the initials AD, who bought the stolen buffalo from the suspect.

"Suspect AD is a middleman who bought stolen buffalo to be resold and make a profit," said Belny.

In addition to the 5 buffalo as evidence, the Pandeglang Police also secured 1 pickup vehicle, 1 key to the buffalo cage, 1 buffalo cage rope with a length of 1 meter, 4 red ropes with a length of 10 meters, and 1 blue tarpaulin.

For their actions, AM, AE, SM, and DD are subject to Article 363 of the Criminal Code concerning theft with a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison.

"Meanwhile, the suspect AD as a middleman is subject to Article 480 of the Criminal Code with a maximum prison sentence of 4 years," he said.