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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Police Shoot Two "Begal" Suspects After Alleged Rampage Across 190 Locations

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesian police shot and apprehended two alleged "begal" (street robbers) in West Jakarta after they were suspected of operating in 190 locations across the city.
  • The suspects, identified as AE and Hi, were allegedly armed when apprehended by the "Begal Hunter" team and were subsequently shot as a "firm and measured" response.
  • Since December 2025, police have investigated 1,283 street crime reports, successfully uncovering 870 crime scenes and arresting 173 suspects, seizing numerous items including weapons and vehicles.

In a decisive move against rampant street crime, the Indonesian National Police have apprehended two notorious "begal" (street robbers) in West Jakarta. The suspects, identified by the initials AE and Hi, were not only captured but also shot by the specialized "Begal Hunter" team due to their alleged armed status during the arrest. This firm action comes after authorities revealed that the duo is suspected of carrying out their criminal activities across an astonishing 190 different locations within Jakarta, operating from December 2025 up to May 2026.

So we secured them using firm and measured action.

— Iman ImannuddinDirector of General Criminal Investigation for Polda Metro Jaya, explaining the use of force against the apprehended suspects.

According to the Director of General Criminal Investigation for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Besar Iman Imannuddin, the police were compelled to use "firm and measured" force because the suspects were found to be in possession of weapons. This justification underscores the dangerous nature of the "begal" phenomenon, which has plagued the capital city. The police's proactive stance and the formation of specialized units like the "Begal Hunter" team demonstrate a commitment to restoring public safety and order in the face of persistent criminal threats.

Since December 2025 until May 2026.

— Iman ImannuddinDirector of General Criminal Investigation for Polda Metro Jaya, specifying the period during which the two suspects allegedly committed their crimes.

These arrests are part of a broader crackdown on street crime, with the Jakarta Metropolitan Police reporting a significant number of cases. Between May 1 and May 22, 2026, police received 1,283 reports of street crimes, leading to the resolution of 870 crime scenes and the arrest of 173 alleged "begal" perpetrators. The police have also confiscated a substantial amount of evidence, including motorcycles, cars, laptops, firearms, and sharp weapons. This comprehensive approach, involving both targeted operations and widespread investigations, signals the authorities' determination to combat the "begal" menace and reassure the public.

From the total reports, we have successfully uncovered a number of 870 crime scenes within the jurisdiction of the Polda Metro Jaya.

— Iman ImannuddinDirector of General Criminal Investigation for Polda Metro Jaya, detailing the success rate of investigations into street crime.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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