A 31-year-old repeat offender has been arrested after a phone kiosk in Malang was broken into and 14 iPhones were taken. Police say the suspect, identified as FM, carried out the theft after watching the store and waiting for the right moment.
The case drew wider attention because the suspect admitted he used the proceeds for online gambling and to pay off mounting debts. Investigators say the motive was not a spontaneous impulse, but a planned burglary aimed at getting cash quickly.
How police traced the suspect
The break-in happened on Jalan Nusakambangan, Kasin Village, Klojen District, Malang City, and was first known after the incident spread on social media. CCTV footage showing a lone man at the scene became a key clue that helped officers identify the suspect.
According to Polresta Malang Kota, the investigation combined the video, witness statements, and other follow-up checks before FM was arrested in Sukun District without resistance. Officers then expanded the inquiry to reconstruct the full sequence of the burglary.
| Key case details | Information |
|---|---|
| Suspect | FM, 31, a repeat offender |
| Location | Jalan Nusakambangan, Kasin, Klojen, Malang City |
| Stolen goods | 14 iPhone units |
| Arrest location | Sukun District |
| Additional recovery point | Gedangan, Sidoarjo |
Planned entry, then quick resale
Police say FM did not enter the kiosk by chance. He is believed to have observed the shop’s activity first, then chose a time when the store appeared vulnerable before forcing entry through the rear access.
Once inside, he took 14 iPhones of various types displayed in the counter. He later sold the phones one by one through an online marketplace to avoid drawing suspicion from a sudden bulk sale.
During a search at his boarding house in Gedangan, Sidoarjo, police found one iPhone that had not yet been sold. Officers also seized iPhone boxes, the helmet used during the break-in, CCTV footage, and remaining cash from the sale of the stolen items.
Repeat theft pattern raises concern
AKP Didik Arifiyanto, deputy head of criminal investigations at Polresta Malang Kota, said FM is not a new offender. He had previously served a prison sentence in a theft case with a similar method years earlier.
Because of that history, investigators are also checking whether he may have been involved in other kiosk break-ins. Police are still tracking the phones that have already been sold so they can be returned to the victim if recovered.
FM now faces another criminal case under Article 477 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Police have also urged business owners to strengthen store security, install adequate CCTV, and report suspicious activity immediately.
The Malang case has become a warning about how repeated theft can be driven by gambling debt and financial pressure. For investigators, the suspect’s own admission has helped clarify why the burglary happened and how the stolen devices were moved so quickly after the break-in.