A police investigation into a stolen-phone network in Bekasi Timur has revealed an unusual attempt to hide iPhones from tracking. Some of the devices were found wrapped in aluminium foil, a method apparently used to disrupt Find My iPhone signals and make location tracking less reliable.
Officers from Polsek Metro Kebayoran Baru uncovered the case while breaking up a fencing network operating from an apartment. The discovery added a new twist to the handling of stolen phones, showing that the devices were not only being moved through illegal channels but also deliberately concealed to weaken their digital trail.
How the tracking was disrupted
The police said the foil wrapping appeared after the phones had moved from the theft suspects to the fence. According to Kapolsek Metro Kebayoran Baru Nugrahadi Kusuma, the use of aluminium foil to obscure the signal was something he had not encountered before in this case.
Investigators first followed reports from victims who were using Find My iPhone. The tracking initially worked normally, but the signal suddenly disappeared once the device reached a specific point.
That point later became important in the investigation. Police cross-checked the location shown in the tracking system and found it matched exactly with the place where the foil-wrapped iPhones were stored.
A simple material used as a shield
Police suspect the aluminium foil was used to reduce the phone’s ability to receive and send signals. With that interference in place, the handset became harder for both owners and investigators to detect.
The tactic did not change the origin of the phones, but it appears to have been used to delay discovery after the devices changed hands. The method shows how stolen electronics can be hidden without any sophisticated equipment.
From theft sites to fences
Andre JR Simamora, head of criminal investigations at Polsek Metro Kebayoran Baru, said the stolen phones reached fences through direct transactions and social media channels. Once the items entered the fencing network, they were bought outright.
He also said thieves often operate in crowded places such as music concerts, entertainment centers, and other busy public areas. Victims often realize their phones are missing only after leaving the scene.
Three suspects and 225 phones seized
Police arrested three suspects, identified as MR, MAA, and J, at an apartment in Bekasi Timur on 3 May 2026. From the location, officers seized 225 mobile phones in total.
The seized devices included 183 iPhones and 42 Android phones. The recovery of that many units strengthened the suspicion that the apartment was being used as part of a wider fencing operation.
The case has also highlighted the risks of buying phones at suspiciously low prices without proper documents. Police urged the public to remain alert in crowded places and to activate security and tracking features on their devices as a basic precaution.