Phone theft suspect held elderly woman hostage with machete, overpowered by residents in Indonesia
An alleged mobile phone thief briefly held an elderly woman hostage at knifepoint in South Labuhanbatu, North Sumatra, after being cornered by residents. The victim was rescued without fatalities, while the alleged perpetrator was later handed over to police.
- A suspected mobile phone thief briefly held a 60-year-old woman hostage with a machete in Kotapinang, South Labuhanbatu, on 6 January 2026.
- Residents coordinated a rescue after the suspect fled into a house, with the standoff livestreamed on Facebook.
- The hostage was rescued unharmed; the suspect was injured and is under police investigation.
INDONESIA: A suspected mobile phone thief was overpowered by residents after briefly holding an elderly woman hostage with a machete in Kotapinang, South Labuhanbatu, North Sumatra, on 6 January 2026.
The incident followed an attempted theft that drew the attention of nearby residents. As the suspect was confronted and surrounded, the situation escalated into a tense standoff that was recorded and livestreamed on Facebook by people at the scene.
According to local media, the confrontation occurred in the Kampung Jawa Tekongan Gereja area on Jalan Kalapane. Residents attempted to detain the suspect after he was allegedly caught stealing a mobile phone.
As the crowd closed in, the suspect fled into a nearby house, apparently seeking refuge from residents pursuing him. The house belonged to a local woman who was inside at the time, media reports said.
Once inside, the suspect seized a machete from the kitchen and took the homeowner hostage. The woman was later identified as Darwati Hasibuan, aged 60.
Amateur video footage circulating on social media showed the suspect holding the machete while threatening the woman. He warned residents to keep their distance and reportedly demanded a vehicle to enable his escape.
Residents, concerned for the hostage’s safety, adjusted their approach. According to eyewitness accounts cited by local media, those closest to the house were asked to move away to avoid provoking the suspect.
While some residents appeared to disperse, others quietly repositioned themselves behind the house. They monitored the suspect’s movements from a side door, waiting for an opportunity to intervene without endangering the hostage.
When the suspect became distracted, several residents moved in and overpowered him. The intervention ended the standoff, allowing the hostage to be freed without sustaining physical injuries.
Darwati later described the ordeal on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. She said the suspect entered her home unexpectedly from the back.
“I did not know the perpetrator. He suddenly came from behind the house, took the machete in the kitchen and immediately held me hostage,” she told Beritasatu.com, according to the report.
She added that the suspect had been chased by residents after being caught stealing a mobile phone before he ran into her house. Darwati said she remained traumatised by the incident despite being rescued.
“Fortunately, residents managed to save me. I am traumatised by what happened”.
Following the rescue, the suspect was handed over to Kotapinang Police for further investigation. Authorities confirmed that no fatalities occurred during the incident.
The suspect sustained serious injuries during the confrontation with residents. He is currently receiving medical treatment in critical condition at Kotapinang General Hospital.
Police said the motive behind the alleged theft remains under investigation. The case is being handled by Kotapinang Police under the South Labuhanbatu Police, according to official statements cited by local outlets.
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