Banda Aceh News | MEULABOH, ACEH — Relief and gratitude swept through the West Aceh District Police Headquarters (Mapolres) as four victims of motor vehicle theft (curanmor) were reunited with their stolen motorcycles, over a year after the vehicles vanished at the hands of a serial thief.
The emotional vehicle handover took place following an official press conference in Meulaboh on Monday, November 9, 2026. Grateful owners expressed heartfelt appreciation to law enforcement officers upon receiving their ignition keys directly from the Head of Operations (Kabag Ops), Police Commissioner Abdul Hamid, S.H.
“Thank you to the West Aceh Police Chief; my missing motorcycle has been returned. Alhamdulillah,” said Yuli Sartika (29), a resident of Masjid Baro Village, Sama Tiga District.
Yuli shared that her Honda Beat automatic motorcycle was vital for her daily work commute and university runs for her younger sibling. The vehicle was stolen on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 23, 2025, while parked outside a student boarding house in Langung Village, Meureubo District.
A similar story was shared by another victim, Fadel (28), whose Honda Beat disappeared from the porch of a shophouse in Seunebok Village, Johan Pahlawan District, on the evening of Monday, October 29, 2025.
“Alhamdulillah, the police located my stolen bike and apprehended the perpetrator,” Fadel expressed.
Serial Recidivist Targeted Automatic Motorcycles Using Specialized Tools
Speaking on behalf of West Aceh Police Chief AKBP Agus Sulistianto, S.H., S.I.K., the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Kasat Reskrim), AKP Deno Wahyudi, S.E., M.Si., revealed that the breakthrough stemmed from meticulous field investigation and case mapping.
Investigators pinpointed and arrested a 39-year-old freelance laborer identified by the initials SA, a resident of Pucok Krueng Village, Pasir Raja District, South Aceh Regency. Police apprehended SA while he was tracked moving through Meulaboh.
Detailing the suspect’s modus operandi, AKP Deno explained that SA rented local rickshaws (becak) to survey target locations around Meulaboh City. He specifically targeted Honda Beat automatic scooters, exploiting vulnerabilities in their handlebar locking mechanisms using a modified Y-key tool.
Police records indicate that SA is a hardened recidivist with a history of at least ten separate motorcycle theft operations across the region. Authorities have charged the suspect under multiple provisions of the Criminal Code (KUHPidana)—specifically Article 447 Paragraph 1 Letter e (carrying a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment), Article 476 (carrying up to 5 years imprisonment), and Article 127.
Strengthening Public Vigilance and Community Safety
Following the successful recovery, West Aceh Police leadership reiterated the importance of proactive vehicle security measures among local residents.
“We hope West Aceh remains safe and conducive, free from criminal activity. However, vehicle owners must remain cautious and enhance their security measures, as our investigation shows that most curanmor targets were left parked in isolated or unmonitored spots,” AKP Deno emphasized.
The successful operation forms part of broader regional policing efforts across Aceh to crack down on property crimes and dismantle recurring theft syndicates, ensuring public safety and legal accountability.
