Armed robbery almost daily occurrence in February<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The number of robberies in the capital involving firearms has
\nreached an alarming level, with data from Jakarta Police
\nHeadquarters showing that armed robberies occurred almost every
\nday in the first two weeks of this month.<\/p>\n
Twenty armed robberies were recorded in January, with at least
\n10 innocent people killed. In comparison, at least 13 armed
\nrobberies were recorded in the first two weeks of February alone,
\nclaiming five lives.<\/p>\n
Police data also shows that the number of armed robberies
\njumped threefold in January to February compared to the same
\nperiod last year, which recorded only 10 cases.<\/p>\n
The most recent case was the Feb. 11 armed robbery at Bank
\nLippo Tangerang, in which two pretended to be customers applying
\nfor a loan. The two then pulled out guns and threatened the
\nemployees, and fled with Rp 300 million.<\/p>\n
The two bank robbers were captured two days later.<\/p>\n
The day before the bank heist, Mulyadi, 35, who worked as a
\nsecurity guard at a factory in Tangerang, was shot dead in front
\nof his home while defending himself against five armed men. After
\nshooting Mulyadi, the robbers stole the dead man's motorcycle.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono acknowledged that
\narmed robbery was escalating. He said robbers were switching from
\narming themselves with traditional weapons, such as swords,
\nmachetes and knives, to guns to anticipate encounters with the
\npolice and to threaten victims more effectively.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that more and more robbers are using guns in
\ncommitting crimes. We have already taken several measures to
\nprevent armed robbery, including deploying more plainclothes
\nofficers and providing 24-hour patrols in areas prone to such
\ncrimes,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Tjiptono said police stations had been built in every
\nsubdistrict in the capital, and alert systems had been installed,
\nsuch as the police radio station, the 1717 police emergency short
\nmessage service and mobile patrols with satellite positioning
\ncapabilities.<\/p>\n
He said the police had identified several areas in North and
\nEast Jakarta, Bekasi and Depok as well as Pasar Baru in Central
\nJakarta as hotbeds of armed crime, and had deployed more
\nplainclothes police to those locations.<\/p>\n
Police have succeeded several times in capturing members of
\narmed gangs, including a syndicate known as the Demak gang, which
\nis based in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
But many members of other robbery gangs, such as the Banten,
\nPalembang and Indramayu syndicates, remain at large.<\/p>\n
So far, little has been done to crack down on gun suppliers
\nwho deal in illicit weaponry or to investigate the sources of
\nillegal firearms, even though there are clear indications that an
\norganized trade exists in supplying criminals and criminal
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
The recent attempt to smuggle 534 guns from Taiwan by a local
\ncompany partly explains why criminals can procure firearms so
\neasily.<\/p>\n
Many residents have expressed fear that they or members of
\ntheir families might fall victim to an armed robbery or a
\nshooting.<\/p>\n
Jakartans have every reason to be afraid, as at least 100,000
\nunregistered guns are believed to be circulating in the capital
\n-- many of which are allegedly used to commit crimes.<\/p>\n
Armed robberies in first 11 days of February:<\/p>\n
No. Date Incident Victims Value of theft (Rp\/million)<\/p>\n
1. Feb. 1 eight people break into a house in Cipete, South Jakarta
\nHasbinal, 45, injured 50<\/p>\n
2. Feb. 1 four muggers beat, shoot resident of Pinang, Tangerang, Banten
\nBambang, 28, dead from chest wound 20<\/p>\n
3. Feb. 2 several people rob a resident of Kramat Jati, East Jakarta,
\nHerdiva Andreas, 21, injured 5<\/p>\n
4. Feb. 2 four motorcyclists rob a businessman in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta
\nMoh. Sukeda, 45, 50<\/p>\n
5. Feb. 2 10 men break into a construction material shop in Tegal Jampang,
\nBogor, West Java Sugiawan injured 175<\/p>\n
6. Feb. 5 two men pretending to be technicians rob a house in Bintaro,
\nSouth Jakarta Mahmuriah, 69, injured 10<\/p>\n
7. Feb. 6 Several men break into an office in Cideng Timur, Central Jakarta
\nsteal 15 computers - 100<\/p>\n
8. Feb. 6 Several men break into into an office in Kebon Kacang,
\nTanah Abang, C. Jakarta - 100<\/p>\n
9. Feb. 7 Five people break into a house in Tanah Abang, steal electronics,
\ncash Dede Yodono, 23, injured 100<\/p>\n
10. Feb. 10 Four men steal motorcycle, Mulyadi, 35, shot dead 10<\/p>\n
11.* Feb. 11 Two men rob Lippo Bank, Tangerang, Banten 300<\/p>\n
* Robbers arrested two days after the crime; all other cases are
\nongoing investigations<\/p>",
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