Briefcase stolen, few items returned<\/p>\n
I have returned recently to Jakarta after a three-year
\nabsence. Within 48 hours from arrival, my briefcase was stolen in
\nthe Sahid Jaya Hotel. The theft occurred on Nov. 4. I have not
\n\"gone public\" before now as I had hoped to secure cooperation,
\nand compensation, from the hotel's management. Now, five weeks
\nlater, my frustration level has risen to a point where I must
\nperform a nonviolent act to get this unhappy experience out of my
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
I had been working late afternoon \"out of my briefcase\" near
\nthe pool of the Sahid Jaya Hotel, and decided to take a sauna in
\nthe fitness club adjacent to the pool area. This facility is open
\nto hotel guests and is run under the name Joanne Drew. I
\nregistered my name on the list provided and was given a towel and
\na key (number 15) to a locker. The locker had a wide part and a
\nnarrow part. I was able to fit the briefcase into the narrow
\npart, standing it on its side. I took a sauna, a steam bath and a
\nshower. When I was finished, the briefcase was gone. In it was
\neverything important to me, business wise and\/or personal, and a
\nlot of cash (about US$2,000).<\/p>\n
I raised the alarm, jerked open a number of adjacent locker
\ndoors, locked or not. This proved easy. Security guards came. But
\nno one from the hotel's management or the police showed up,
\nalthough I had insisted they be sent for. There were very few
\nguests or members using the club. Their names were entered on the
\nlist, marking times of arrival and departure. There were many
\nstaff members about.<\/p>\n
I went on to the police headquarters near the Semanggi flyover
\nto file a formal report, which was typed up, signed and sealed by
\nthe officer on duty. This official police report is required by
\nembassies before they can issue new documents like passports.<\/p>\n
At midnight, Nov. 6, two bell boy types (uniforms, name tags)
\ncame to my room. (I had in the meantime been \"upgraded\" to what
\nis called the Executive Floor, and been given a fruit basket).
\nThey handed me a plastic Pasaraya (department store) shopping
\nbag. Inside were two envelopes with my name on them and any old
\nroom number written on them. I was told that the bag had been
\nfound near the hotel's kiosk, \"just standing there\".<\/p>\n
Inside the envelopes were my now empty wallet, my passport,
\nall credit cards, U.S. green card, drivers license, plane
\ntickets, address\/phone book, family photos and certain pieces of
\ncorrespondence. Not returned were the cash, gold items, including
\nwedding ring and cufflinks, Rayban sunglasses, Nokia phone, Swiss
\narmy knives, batik etui with fountain pen and ballpoint pens, and
\nto my surprise and chagrin, my 1998 diary\/appointment book (Letts
\nof London). This book is of vital importance to me but what
\n\"street value\" could it possibly have (except perhaps to very
\nsophisticated thieves)?<\/p>\n
All possible suspects had been questioned, without result. I
\nwas further told not to insult Indonesia when I voiced a bit of
\nfrustration, and was invited \"to sue us\".<\/p>\n
Some questions are still puzzling me: Was this an \"inside
\njob\"? Who benefited from the theft? Why did the perpetrator(s)
\nbother to return certain items, but did not return my
\ndiary\/appointment book?<\/p>\n
Although I feel I have paid quite enough already, I offer to
\npay an additional $300 (in small unmarked bills if preferred) for
\nthe return of the appointment book (complete with all the
\nvouchers and correspondence that were tucked in the book).<\/p>\n
A final note: I lived in Jakarta from 1989 to 1995, and
\ntraveled all over the country. There was never anything taken
\nfrom me during that period.<\/p>\n
ANTON B DEITERS<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/briefcase-stolen-few-items-returned-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }