PJU Cable Thief Specialist Arrested, Police: Already 81 Points, State Loss IDR 700 Million

Two suspects in the theft of PJU cables in Tangerang/ Photo: Jehan/ VOI

TANGERANG – Two thieves of public street lighting cables (PJU) were arrested by the Tangerang Metro Police. The perpetrators with the initials WS and MTA are known to have committed theft at 81 points spread across the Greater Tangerang area.

Tangerang Police Chief Kombes Pol Raden Romdhon Natakusuma said the two suspects were arrested on Wednesday, June 15. He explained that the cable theft was initiated by information from the public and then the police immediately conducted an investigation.

"There are 59, in Panongan there are 4, the most is Tigaraksa, there are 18, so there are many. And the rest in Tangsel there are 12, in Tangerang City there are 10 crime scenes," Raden told reporters, Wednesday, July 6.

Kombes Raden explained that the suspect's modus operandi was to disguise himself as a PJU technician.

"The perpetrator tricked the residents by disguised as a maintenance officer (technician)," he said.

In addition to arresting the perpetrators, continued Raden, his party also secured evidence of a number of equipment used to carry out the action.

"The evidence secured by means of the crime is a two-wheeled vehicle, then the equipment can be seen that there are pliers, scissors, knives and uniforms," he said.

As a result of this action, said Raden, the state suffered losses of up to Rp700 million.

"The total loss is estimated at around Rp 700 million," he concluded

For these actions, the two perpetrators were charged with Article 363 of the Criminal Code with a maximum threat of 7 years in prison.