inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Jakarta Regional Metropolitan Police's Robber Hunter Team arrested eight street criminals suspected of involvement in a series of violent thefts in several areas of Jakarta. One of them was the snatching of a cellphone belonging to an Italian citizen at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta.

The Director of General Criminal Investigation at the Jakarta Regional Metropolitan Police, Senior Superintendent Iman Imannuddin, stated that the perpetrators were arrested in a special operation conducted by the Robber Hunter Team.

"We have arrested eight suspects who committed violent theft," he explained on Monday evening (5/18/2026).

Of the eight arrested, he said, three were identified as the main perpetrators of the snatching of Italian tourists' cellphone at the HI Roundabout. He revealed that the group has been operating for a while

Based on preliminary investigation results, the three perpetrators are suspected of operating in dozens of different locations, with a staggering number of crime scenes.

"Three of them are the perpetrators who snatched the cellphone belonging to a tourist at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout. Based on preliminary interviews, the three suspects have committed 120 crimes at 120 crime scenes," he explained.

He further stated that this gang is suspected of deliberately targeting busy areas and crowded spots to facilitate their escape after robbing the victims' belongings. The actions are said to have been fast and organized.

The police are still pursuing other members of the group suspected of being involved in this street crime network. In fact, one of the fugitives is said to have been carrying a firearm.

The suspects are being charged under Articles 466, 471, 477, and 479 of the Criminal Code, which relate to the crime of theft with violence.

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