Batam, Batamnews.co.id - Two perpetrators of robbery, Yusuf and Safrudin, who committed their crimes in front of Grandmall Batam and the Thamrin City area, Lubuk Baja District, Batam, Riau Islands, were found to have been actively seeking their victims beforehand.

Before robbing CFS, a Dutch national, they had already carried out a robbery in the Thamrin City area, Nagoya, Batam.

"The victims were a foreign national from the Netherlands in front of Grandmall Batam and a local named Hartono in the Thamrin City area," said Kombes Pol Nugroho Tri Nuryanto, the Chief of Barelang Regional Police, during a press conference at Mapolresta Barelang on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Both of them were subdued with gunfire by joint personnel from the Criminal Investigation Unit of Barelang Regional Police and the Criminal Unit of Lubuk Baja Police.

Kombes Pol Nugroho Tri Nuryanto explained that the two perpetrators operated with a motorcycle, searching for victims who were carrying bags or valuable items.

In executing their crimes, the perpetrators would first observe the location and, when they deemed the situation safe, they would proceed with the robbery.

Armed with information from the crime scenes, the authorities managed to identify the two culprits and eventually arrested them at their respective residences. However, the arrest did not go smoothly as both of them resisted and attempted to escape.

"They tried to resist and escape, but our officers are skilled and managed to disable them with precise and measured shots," explained Kombes Pol Nugroho.

Flip to the next page, as it turns out, the perpetrators are former repeat offenders.

Kombes Pol Nugroho revealed that the investigation results showed that both perpetrators were repeat offenders who had been imprisoned several times before. They became acquainted while serving sentences in prison, and their decision to engage in criminal activities again seemed unstoppable.

Safrudin admitted that he had been in prison twice before for possessing sharp weapons and dealing in stolen goods.

"I was first imprisoned in 2017 and received a sentence of 1.5 years. Then in 2020, I was sentenced to 10 months for dealing in stolen goods. This time, I committed the robbery due to economic needs to buy milk and diapers for my child," confessed Safrudin.

Similarly, Yusuf, who had been imprisoned in 2018 for two years, admitted that he got involved in criminal activities again. "This is the second time; in 2018, I was sentenced to two years in prison. I met Safrudin inside the prison, and this time, we committed the crime together," he said.

Both perpetrators are currently in custody and will face further legal proceedings for their actions.

This incident serves as a reminder to the public about the importance of enhancing security and awareness when in public places and the need for strict law enforcement against criminals.