A Gang Of ATM Burglars In The Mode Of Ganjar Korek Kayu In Ponorogo Arrested

ANTARA/HO - Ponorogo Police)

PONOROGO - Satreskrim Ponorogo Police, East Java arrested three suspected perpetrators of blocking ATM cards who had acted in several cities in East Java.

"These suspects are indeed specialists in probing ATM cards using wood lighters to drain hundreds of millions of victims' money," said Ponorogo Police Chief AKBP Anton Prasetyo as reported by ANTARA, Friday, December 29.

The perpetrators were arrested by a team of suspects at the Ponorogo Police while hiding in the Bandung area, West Java.

Their identities and actions were successfully revealed by the police after the last victim, the ATM card, complained about the "conceived" incident of his account in mid-October 2023.

Anton explained that the chronology began when the victim on behalf of Dewi Ratnasari would take some money at a BNI ATM located at Tamansari Market, Sambit.

After making the transaction, his ATM card suddenly got stuck and could not get out of the ATM.

"Indeed, the suspects were eyeing the victims before entering the ATM," he said.

When he panicked because his ATM card could not come out, suddenly one of the suspects with the initials NL (30) pretended to take the resi that was left in the ATM by offering assistance with the excuse that the perpetrator's ATM card was also swallowed and managed to get out.

"When the victim was off guard, the victim's ATM card was exchanged for the perpetrator's ATM which had been prepared beforehand," added Anton.

Meanwhile, the other two perpetrators EP (48) and M (49) were outside the ATM monitoring the situation and observing the ATM pin used by the victim.

When he managed to get the card belonging to the suspect's victim, he immediately drained the contents of the victim's savings worth Rp. 112 million.

"The victim found out that the ATM was drained after checking through m-banking, and it turned out that there were Rp. 300 thousand left, at that time he immediately reported to the Sambit Police,"

From the statements of the suspects, it is known that they also carried out similar actions in three locations in Jember, Trenggalek and Malang. In addition, the suspects are recidivists with the same case.

"To account for their actions, EP, M and NL suspects are subject to Article 363 or 378 or 372 of the Criminal Code with a maximum penalty of seven years," he said.