Meranti Islands Police Arrest Students Who Stole Mosque Charity Boxes

The Meranti Islands Police Satreskrim brought together four students who committed the crime of theft and their victims at the Meranti Islands Police Headquarters, recently. ANTARA/HO-Polres Meranti

RIAU - The Meranti Islands Police Satreskrim Team, Riau Police arrested four mosque charity box thieves who were still underage students, namely MRA (16), NAS (14), MIR (14), and RMI (14).

The Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Meranti Islands Police, Iptu Tony Prawira, explained that the chronology began last Sunday, May 15 at around 10.00 WIB in three different places and went viral on social media.

In addition to dismantling donation boxes at Al Mutaqqin Mosque, Jalan Alahair and Masjid Al Inayah located on Jalan Alah Air, they also broke into motorcycle repair shops.

"I immediately ordered the team to go to the crime scene and conduct an investigation in the field to confirm the incident, as well as pursue the perpetrators," said Iptu Tony in Selatpanjang, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 17.

The results of the investigation, said Tony, the owner of the workshop admitted that there were a number of missing equipment or used goods. At around 23.00 WIB, the team finally managed to secure and interrogate the perpetrators of the theft based on the characteristics recorded on CCTV at the crime scene (TKP).

"They admit that it is true that they have committed the crime of theft in the form of used shock absorbers, used drums, used brake pads. The stolen goods have been sold to a container for used goods for Rp. 20,000. The stolen money has already been used by the perpetrators, " he said too.

After carrying out their actions at the workshop, the perpetrators then dismantled the Al Mutaqqin Mosque infaq box and managed to steal Rp40,000 of money. Meanwhile, the theft of the Al-Inayah mosque infaq box was carried out by the perpetrators on Monday, May 9 at 03.00 WIB in the morning and took Rp21,000 in cash.

Regarding this case, said Iptu Tony, his party has contacted the victims, namely the workshop owner, the administrator of the Al Inayah Mosque and the administrator of the Al Mutaqqin Mosque. The victims did not want to report the case to be processed legally, considering that the perpetrators were still minors.

"To resolve this case, we summoned the victim and brought him together directly with the perpetrators at the Meranti Islands Police. Each party has agreed to resolve the case amicably. The perpetrators and victims have forgiven each other," he said again.

The perpetrators have also made a statement and promised not to repeat their actions or commit other unlawful acts.

"The peace over the case was also witnessed by the parents of the perpetrators and representatives of the teachers where the perpetrators attended (school) education," Tony said.