JAKARTA: The police in Batam, Riau Islands, have arrested a suspect for allegedly stealing Buddhist ritual items from houses and temples around the city, a crime that has become more frequent in recent months.
Detectives from Riau Islands’ Police’ Violent Crimes (Jatanras) sub-directorate and Lubuk Baja Police’s Criminal Investigation (Reskrim) unit, arrested Vahn “Olang” Hariyono in an illegal settlement next to Cluster D of Putra Jaya housing complex in Batu Aji district on Saturday at about 1pm.
Lubuk Baja Police chief Adj. Comr. Cindo Kottama said the arrest was a follow up on the theft of a four-faced Buddha statue worth some Rp 19.8 million (US$1,094) from Shan Fo Tang Miao temple in Baloi Point shophouse in Lubuk Baja district in the morning of Oct 11.
The theft was revealed after worshippers reported the incident to temple management, who immediately inspected CCTV footage. In the video the suspect was seen wearing a hoodie jacket, shorts and helmet while carrying the statue on the way to the residential area.
“From the information we received on Saturday morning, the joint team immediately held a coordination meeting and swept the location,” Cindo said.
“We managed to arrest the suspect and brought the evidence to Lubuk Baja Police for further legal process.”
The suspect has been charged under Article 477 of the 2023 Criminal Code, punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Previously, thieves stole a hiolo (incense burners) from Im Ching Tian temple around SP Plaza in the Sagulung area. It is believed the thieves wanted to sell the brass to scrap dealers.
The police have called on management of places of worship and local leaders to strengthen security in their neighbourhoods and maximize the use of CCTV to prevent more thefts.
Aseng, a prominent figure at the Anggrek Permai housing complex, a largely Chinese-Indonesian community, highlighted the audacity of thieves who targeted residential areas and temples despite being monitored by surveillance cameras.
“Now thieves no longer are afraid of CCTV because they think there will be no police reports,” he told a neighbourhood watch discussion.
“No matter how small, security systems and strict punishment must be enforced as a deterrence.”
He said in his neighbourhood alone, there had been three instances of theft from a monk’s house.
“The thefts were carried out in the evening, and the thieves were not deterred by CCTV.” Vahn’s arrest adds to the number of theft cases being investigated by the police in the province. Previously, Riau Islands Police arrested more than 30 suspects in various cases of theft and vandalism at public facilities and places of worship.
Responding to the thefts, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University (UMRAH) rector Agung Dhamar Syakti stressed the importance of security system improvement and transformation by adopting crime prevention through environmental design.
“The governance of public space and religious facilities in an industrial city such as Batam must integrate modern technological aspects,” he said.
“Effective crime prevention must use integrated information technology, such as optimizing the use of CCTV, smart lighting and movement sensors at vulnerable locations.” - The Jakarta Post/ANN
