A burglary in Malang has exposed a repeat offender whose alleged motive went beyond theft. Police say FM, 30, sold most of the 14 iPhones he stole from a phone shop and used the money for online gambling and debt payments.
The case has drawn attention because FM is not a first-time offender. Authorities say he had already served a one-year prison sentence in 2018 for a similar theft case in Malang Regency, underscoring a pattern of repeated crime that left the victim facing losses worth tens of millions of rupiah.
How the theft unfolded
The incident happened at Dinasty Apple, a phone counter on Jalan Nusakambangan in Kasin, Klojen, Malang City. Police said the break-in took place on Sunday, 24/05/2026 at 00:16, when the store was closed and the devices were still new stock.
According to Wakasat Reskrim Polresta Malang Kota AKP Didik Arifianto, the victim only learned of the theft the next day while preparing to open the shop. When the shop was checked, the door was already open and 14 iPhones were missing from the display and storage area.
CCTV footage led investigators to the suspect
After the report was filed, investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the scene. Police said the recording clearly showed the suspect’s face during the break-in, giving officers an early lead in the investigation.
FM, who lives on Jalan Tebo Selatan, Gang Mewah, Mulyorejo, Sukun, Malang City, was later identified and tracked down. His arrest came on Saturday, 27/06/2026 at night in the Bakalan Krajan area of Sukun after an intensive search.
Some of the stolen phones were hidden in Sidoarjo
Police then searched the suspect’s boarding house in Gedangan, Sidoarjo Regency, which was believed to have been used to store part of the stolen goods before resale. During the search, officers recovered one blue-turquoise iPhone 11 that had not yet been sold.
The other 13 iPhones had already been sold individually. AKP Didik said they were offered through social media in Sidoarjo at prices ranging from Rp 5 million to Rp 6 million per unit.
| Item | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 blue turquoise | Recovered | Found at the suspect’s boarding house in Gedangan, Sidoarjo |
| 13 other iPhones | Sold | Resold one by one through social media in Sidoarjo |
| Remaining cash | Rp 100 thousand | What was left from the resale proceeds at the time of arrest |
Money spent on gambling and debt
Police said the resale money had mostly disappeared by the time FM was detained. Only Rp 100 thousand remained from the proceeds, while the suspect reportedly admitted that the funds were used for online gambling and to repay debts.
That admission became a key part of the case, as officers continued to examine how the stolen phones were distributed and whether more of the property could be traced after changing hands. Police also said they were still working to recover as much of the victim’s loss as possible.
A repeat offender facing a new charge
Polresta Malang Kota said FM is a recidivist in the same type of case. He previously served a one-year sentence in 2018 for theft in Malang Regency, making the new allegation part of a repeated criminal pattern.
The suspect has been charged under Article 477 Paragraph (1) letters (e) and (f) of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison. Investigators said the case is still being developed to map the theft, resale trail, and remaining evidence in full.