Indonesian police arrest man over theft from German-owned yacht

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3 hours ago

Sorong, SW Papua (ANTARA) – Police in Sorong, Southwest Papua Province, arrested a man suspected of stealing goods worth an estimated Rp250 million (US$14,000) from a yacht owned by a German national, authorities said.

Sorong City Police Criminal Investigation Chief Adjunct Commissioner Afriangga U. Tan said investigators were questioning the suspect and pursuing four others listed as wanted over the theft.

“Investigators are still questioning the suspect and examining the seized evidence. We are also pursuing four wanted suspects allegedly involved in the theft,” he said here Monday.

Police identified the arrested suspect as O.J.D.F., while four others, identified by their initials as FK, SG, A, and YA, remain at large.

The case was reported under Police Report No. LP/B/910/IX/2026/SPKT/Polresta Sorong Kota/Polda Papua Barat Daya dated Sept. 19, 2026.

Afriangga said the theft occurred at about 1 a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 19) aboard the yacht, which was anchored near Jalan Usaha Mina in Sorong, Southwest Papua.

The German owner discovered several valuables missing after returning to the yacht from shopping and reported the incident to Sorong City police.

Police seized several items allegedly linked to the theft, including mobile phones, an Apple laptop, a drone set, a speaker, headphones, diving equipment, a dive computer, two spearguns, fishing gear, and jerrycans.

“The victim’s total losses from the incident are estimated at Rp250 million (US$14,000),” Afriangga said.

The case was uncovered by a joint team from the Sorong City police’s Mangewang Mobile Brigade unit and the Sorong City sector police’s Macan operational team.

Based on their investigation, police received information about one of the suspects’ whereabouts in Sorong. Officers then mapped the location before making the arrest.

Police said the suspect resisted and tried to flee when officers moved to arrest him, but they managed to apprehend him.

Officers then searched for evidence allegedly hidden by the suspect and recovered several items for use in the investigation.

During preliminary questioning, the suspect admitted involvement in the theft, allegedly carried out with others who entered the unoccupied yacht while it was anchored.

Sorong City police are investigating the involvement of other people and pursuing the four wanted suspects to uncover the full extent of the case.

“We urge anyone who knows the whereabouts of the four wanted suspects to inform police immediately and not take matters into their own hands,” Afriangga said.