Five individuals involved in motor vehicle theft cases have been apprehended by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Polres Tasikmalaya.
progresifjaya.co.id, TASIKMALAYA – The Polres Tasikmalaya have successfully dismantled three motor vehicle theft rings that operated across several districts in Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java. Five individuals were apprehended in connection with these motorcycle and car thefts.
Investigators seized four motorcycles and one Mitsubishi L300 pickup truck as evidence. The dismantling of these three theft rings was announced by the Kapolres Tasikmalaya, AKBP Ade Papa Rihi, alongside the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Heru Samsul Bahri, at the Polres Tasikmalaya Headquarters on Friday, October 16, 2026.
According to Kapolres Ade, the thefts took place in the districts of Padakembang, Tanjungjaya, and Taraju between late September and early October 2026. The perpetrators allegedly stole the vehicles to profit from their sale.
“The suspects were driven by economic motives, they committed these thefts to obtain money from selling the stolen vehicles,” said AKBP Ade.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Polres Tasikmalaya Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Heru Samsul Bahri explained, that the five suspects belonged to three separate groups, each employing different methods. Their roles ranged from carrying out the actual thefts to acting as receivers of the stolen vehicles.
The first group consisted of RP (38) and HP (29), who acted as the individuals responsible for stealing the motorcycles, while HW (23) served as the receiver for the stolen vehicles.
The perpetrators allegedly bypassed the motorcycle ignition locks using a sharpened key, commonly known as an astag (a makeshift skeleton key). HW was the first to be apprehended after purchasing one of the stolen motorcycles.
Acting on this information, the Detective Mobile Unit (Resmob) of the Polres Tasikmalaya, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Polsek Leuwisari pursued RP and HP, eventually apprehending both in the Warung Peuteuy area, Salawu District.
The second group involves RP, alias O (36), a repeat offender previously convicted of motorcycle theft in 2022. He allegedly took advantage of victims who left their motorcycles unattended with the keys still in the ignition.
The perpetrator would abandon the vehicle he had arrived on and flee with the victim’s motorcycle. Following an analysis of CCTV footage, police arrested him in Sukaraja District on October 1, 2026.
The third case involves FR (20), who allegedly stole a black Mitsubishi L300 pickup truck belonging to his employer, for whom he worked as a driver. FR was reportedly aware that the vehicle’s ignition mechanism was already damaged.
Exploiting this defect, he allegedly drove off with the truck at night, using a key from a different vehicle. Police arrested FR in Parumasan Village, Sodonghilir District, on October 2, 2026.
In addition to the vehicles, police seized several pieces of supporting evidence, including vehicle registration certificates (STNK), vehicle ownership documents (BPKB), a skeleton key (kunci astag), an L-shaped wrench, a helmet, and clothing believed to have been worn during the commission of the crimes.
The perpetrators are charged under Article 477 of Law Number 1 of 2023 (the Criminal Code), which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison or a Category V fine.
Meanwhile, the suspect accused of receiving stolen goods is charged under Article 591, letter (a) of the same law, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison. (Bembo)
