A 23-year-old man from Buleleng has been apprehended by police for quite the crime spree — that of helmet theft.
While helmet theft is not that uncommon in Bali, the fact that Muhamad Rizki did not settle for just one or two, but a whopping 240, makes it quite… impressive in all the wrong ways.
Detailing this unusual feat, Singaraja Police Chief Nyoman Pawana Jaya Negara, revealed that during interrogation, Rizki shockingly confessed to making off with a staggering collection of helmets. The various hotspots for his peculiar activity included the premises of Ganesha Education University (Undiksha), the Bhuana Patra Sports Arena, and the serene stretch of Penimbangan Beach.
“[The highest number of cases were] at Undiksha with 100 helmets snatched, followed by Bhuana Patra Sports Arena and Penimbangan Beach, each with 70 helmets,” he said yesterday.
Rizki was caught red-handed by a security guard at Undiksha on Aug. 10. The guard immediately alerted the police, leading to Rizki’s arrest.
The modus operandi of this helmet-seeking bandit? Rizki reportedly had an eye for pricey headgear dangling tantalizingly from mirrors or strung over motorbike seats, often yanking off as many as five in a single day, according to officials.
When probed by the police, Rizki admitted to hawking off his haul on the digital marketplace, using the proceeds to fund his day-to-day pursuits.
“This has become his bread and butter. He sells [the helmets] online,” Pawana added.
Under Indonesian law, Rizki is looking at a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment for theft.
