Foreign Currency Theft

A house in Royal Park Residence, Mustika Jaya, Bekasi City, was burglarized while the family was away at church, and the theft drew attention because the suspect was not a stranger to the household. Police said the stolen items included cash, foreign currency, jewelry, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max.The suspect, identified as IMT (19), was arrested after investigators linked him to the case through CCTV footage. Authorities said he used knowledge of the family’s routine and the location of the house key to enter without much resistance.A familiar visitor became the suspectBekasi City Police Chief Kombes Kusumo Wahyu Bintoro said IMT was a friend of the victim’s younger brother and had often visited the house. That familiarity gave him access to information that later became central to the burglary.According to police, the suspect knew the family usually left the house key on a shoe rack near the entrance when they went out. He allegedly took advantage of that habit after the home was left locked and empty on Sunday, May 24, around 10:00 a.m.Foreign currency, jewelry, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max takenPolice listed the stolen property as 50 US dollar bills in $100 denominations, 20 Euro notes in various denominations, several Singapore dollar notes, and 50 Rp100,000 banknotes. The suspect also took a white gold ring and one orange iPhone 17 Pro Max.The total cash value obtained from the theft was calculated at Rp 33.4 million. Part of the foreign currency was later exchanged at a money changer before being used for personal needs.Caught after CCTV reviewInvestigators from the Bekasi City Police Criminal Investigation Unit identified IMT after reviewing CCTV recordings from the scene. He was arrested on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Grand Vista Housing, Jayamulya Village, Serang Baru District, Bekasi Regency.Police said he entered the victim’s bedroom and opened an unlocked drawer, where he took the cash and the iPhone before leaving the house. The footage became a key lead in confirming his movements and linking him to the burglary.Money spent on shopping, debt, and online gamblingKusumo said the motive was economic, adding that the suspect was unemployed. He allegedly spent the stolen money on daily expenses, leisure, and online gambling.Police said some of the funds were used to buy a Seiko watch for Rp 4.5 million, New Balance shoes for Rp 2.4 million, and an H&M T-shirt for Rp 299,000. The Euro equivalent of Rp 13 million was used for online gambling and debt repayment, while the remaining Singapore dollar cash went to meals and a phone case.Police have also seized several pieces of evidence, including the cash that had not yet been spent. IMT is charged under Article 476 of Law No. 1 of 2023 of the Criminal Code on theft, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years or a maximum fine in Category V of Rp 500 million.

Friend of the Younger Brother, Bekasi House Burglary Exposes an Easy Entry Point