Indonesian police arrested a ring of cat thieves who stole purebred felines from homes to resell online.

The initial arrests of two gang members in Bukittinggi city, West Sumatra province on Monday (January 18), were made when the men were caught selling a stolen pet carrier.

According to police, the gang targets all types of cats such as Persian, Angora, Flatnose to Peaknose.

"We track down people who are looking for purebred cats on Facebook and offer a stolen cat at a low price," suspects Rido and Rafi told police.

Suspect Rido aged 18 said that last Friday (January 15) they stole three Persian cats at the same time.

Two of the cats were successfully sold for IDR 700,000 ($50 USD) and the third one ran away.

The Head of Bukittinggi City Police Criminal Investigation Unit, First Inspector Novrizal, told local media that police have now arrested three other gang members.

"This gang has been stealing cats for the past three years. Some of the thefts were caught on CCTV cameras at the victim's house," said Novrizal.

The perpetrators are also suspected to have robbed houses and stolen school-owned electronics.

They have been charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code on Theft with a penalty of seven years in prison.

Indonesian police arrested a gang of purebred cat thieves belonging to residents of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra province.

The initial arrests of 2 gang members on Monday (January 18) were made when the thief was selling his stolen cat cage.

To the police, the gang claimed to target all types of race cats such as Persian, Angora, Flatnose to Peaknose types.

They tracked down people who were looking for purebred cats on Facebook, then offered the stolen cat a low price.

Suspect Rido (18 yo) said that last Friday they stole 3 Persian cats at the same time from the cat cage.

2 cats were successfully sold for Rp. 700,000, while the other one ran away when it was about to be sold.

"We offer cats to who are looking for cats on Facebook for them to buy and raise. We sell cheap, which is usually sold for 1 million per cat for each breed," said Rido and Rafi to the police.

The head of Bukittinggi City Police Criminal Investigation Unit, First Inspector Novrizal, told the media that, from the results of the interrogations of the 2 perpetrators, the police arrested 3 other gang members.

Apart from stealing purebred cats, the perpetrators also robbed houses and stole school-owned electronics.

"This gang has been stealing cats for the past 3 years. Some of the thefts were caught on CCTV cameras at the victim's house," said first inspector Novrizal.

The suspects charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code on Theft with a penalty of seven years in prison.