Police Arrest 2 Thief Cables On Aceh SIM Airport

A press conference related to the arrest of cable theft on the runway of Aceh SIM Airport, in Banda Aceh, Friday (9/8/2024) (ANTARA/Rahmat Fajri)

The Banda Aceh Police Satreskrim arrested two thieves of the runway light cable at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport (SIM) Blang Bintang Aceh Besar.

"The perpetrator stole a lighting flight cable resulting in a loss of approximately Rp560 million," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Banda Aceh Police, Kompol Fadillah Aditya Pratama, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 9.

Fadillah said the theft of the cable was carried out by the perpetrators on June 25, 2024.

After conducting an investigation and knowing the identity of the suspect, they were finally arrested on July 16, 2024.

The two suspects who stole the airport cable were MI and JU, both residents of Kuta Baro District or areas close to the SIM Airport area.

In addition to the two perpetrators of the theft, the police also arrested a collector with the initials IB who was a buyer of used goods. He bought the stolen cable for Rp. 500 thousand.

Fadillah explained that the cable is an important tool, because it can interfere with airport activities, and endanger flight safety.

Moreover, he said, the length of the stolen runway cable was approximately 900 meters. Then, the cable was cut by various sizes, so that the perpetrators could be brought for sale.

In this case there are still other perpetrators who have not been arrested because based on the latest information they have fled out of town with evidence for sale.

"We still have the perpetrators who have not been arrested, they are suspected of leaving the city, they are carrying the evidence they have stolen," he said.

The motive for the theft of cables is economic problems. Because they think this item has a high selling price. Moreover, there is a copper component in the cable.

"It is used for daily needs (the money from selling cables). After all, this perpetrator has nothing to do with it," said Kompol Fadillah.

Meanwhile, the Manager of Finance at SIM Aceh Besar Airport, Ade Yustian said that with the loss of a cable about 900 meters on the runway, visually disrupting flights, especially pilot vision.

Where, when faced with certain weather conditions, it will interfere with the pilot's view towards the runway so as to cut the pilot's visibility.

"With this lamp not functioning, it will automatically cut the pilot's visibility on the runway," he said.