Padang — The Padang Panjang Police Criminal Investigation Department (Satreskrim) has arrested two suspects involved in the theft of railway tracks on the section between Batu Tabal and Kacang stations. This follows a report filed by the Padang Class II Railway Technical Office (BTP) to investigate the theft of state property, which has become increasingly common in the working area of the Sawahlunto Work Unit, which covers Batu Tabal Station to Muaro Sijunjung and Logas.

According to the information received, Satreskrim arrested the two suspects at a scrap metal warehouse in Nagari Batipuah, Tanah Datar Regency, on Wednesday 9 October at around 13:00 WIB. The arrest took place while the suspects were unloading cut railway rails, which had been cut into 1-2 metre long pieces. A total of 85 pieces of rail were transferred from a truck (Colt Diesel) to a truck (Fuso) at the warehouse.

The two suspects, identified as MY and FR, admitted that the metal came from Ombilin, an area under the jurisdiction of the Sawahlunto Service Unit. Two of the six perpetrators (the rest are still being sought) said they used an oxy-acetylene torch to cut the rails and loaded them into trucks for sale.

"As the rails came from the Tanah Datar Police jurisdiction, the case will be handled by the Tanah Datar Police and the Sawahlunto Service Unit has coordinated the next steps in this case," said BTP Padang chief Hendrialdi in his statement.

The BTP Padang chief urged everyone, including the local community, to help protect state assets in order to prevent future cases of destruction or theft that could harm the country.

"If we don't protect them, who will? If you notice any suspicious activity, you can report it to BTP Padang through any platform, including social media, or to the service units working here so that we can take immediate action on the report," said the BTP chief.