Banda Aceh Police Arrest Hundreds Of Millions Of Gold Jewelry Thieves

Banda Aceh Police Chief Kombes Joko Heri Purwono/ANTARA

Banda Aceh Police revealed a case of stealing jewelry in the form of hundreds of millions of gold in Lamlungu Village, Peukan Bada District, Aceh Besar District. The perpetrator was arrested.

"The total loss suffered by the victim from the crime of theft committed by the suspect MUA (26) reached approximately Rp. 280 million," said Banda Aceh Police Chief Kombes Joko Heri Purwono as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 14.

The house that was broken into belonged to one of the residents of Lamlamumpu named Hilwasi (43). Meanwhile, the perpetrator himself also came from the same village and worked at the victim's house in 2024.

This case was revealed after the Banda Aceh Police received the victim's report on May 4, 2025. After the report, officers immediately carried out further investigations.

"The perpetrator was caught at a hotel in Banda Aceh on May 8, 2025, after returning from Medan," he said.

Joko said this incident occurred on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Lamlungu Village, Peukan Bada District, Aceh Besar District. The theft was carried out by the perpetrator by breaking into the victim's empty house.

After successfully entering, the perpetrator then headed to the safe in the main room of the victim's house, and forcibly opened the safe using a hoe, then took the valuables inside.

The victim's valuables from the safe were 10 grams of gold, 100 grams of gold and round bars, three souvenirs of gold bullion in London, and IDR 1.8 million in cash.

According to the Chief of Police, before carrying out the action, the perpetrators had already stalked and confirmed that the owner was not at home. Moreover, the suspect previously worked at the house in November 2024.

"The suspect already knew the condition at home because he had worked as a handyman. So we are sure that the perpetrator already knew there was the safe," he said.

Furthermore, the suspect went to a gold shop in the Aceh Market area, Baiturrahman District, Banda Aceh City. There, the perpetrator sold 10 grams of ANTAM gold for Rp. 17 million, and one 100 gram round gold bullion for Rp. 173 million.

"Meanwhile, the suspect kept three souvenirs of gold bullion in London at his house," he said.

From the sale of the stolen goods, the suspect bought a white iPhone 15 Plus for IDR 13,987,000. Then also bought two golds for IDR 11.6 million, as well as IDR 700 thousand for DC Brand shoes.

"Then, the suspect also used money to attend a wedding party in Medan City, North Sumatra. And, the rest of the proceeds from the sale of the stolen goods are still stored in the amount of Rp. 152.2 million," he said.

Now, the suspect is being held at the Banda Aceh Police Headquarters, and charged with Article 363 paragraph 1 of the 5th Criminal Code concerning theft with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.