'I was robbed by 10 crooks'<\/p>\n
Traffic jams are not the only difficulties facing commuters.
\nCrimes committed on public transportation vehicles often leave
\nthe victims traumatized. Some of them shared their experiences
\nwith The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Anton, 40, is an assistant manager in a department store in
\nPermata Hijau, South Jakarta. He lives in Tangerang with his wife
\nand only son, and has been there for more than 20 years:<\/p>\n
Public transportation is the worst. No one now feels safe
\ntaking public transportation.<\/p>\n
I think the correct conditions will last much longer than most
\nof us realize. It is, if I may say so, almost impossible to
\neradicate street crime. Everyone has to fight hard to survive and
\nthey are sometimes forced to commit crimes to survive.<\/p>\n
The law and its enforcers are no longer effective in coping
\nwith the problems. For instance, students are becoming even more
\nviolent. They even hijack public transportation vehicles. And
\nwhat can the authorities do to deal with it? Nothing.<\/p>\n
I am still traumatized by when I was robbed by more than 10
\ncrooks who left me with nothing but the clothes on my back in a
\nbus on Jl. Thamrin several years ago.<\/p>\n
Atik, 28, is a councillor at the Pembangunan Jaya school in
\nBintaro. She was born and still resides in Condet, East Jakarta,
\nwith her family:<\/p>\n
Public transportation is not safe at all. The public are
\nfrightened by the frequency with which crimes take place aboard
\nbuses.<\/p>\n
I had a traumatic experience when I was threatened with a
\nknife held to my side on a public minivan heading to Cililitan. I
\nlost Rp 20,000, the only money I had in my wallet. Luckily my
\nvaluables and camera were safe in my bag as the crooks -- five of
\nthem who pretended to be passengers and were in cahoots with the
\ndriver -- knew nothing about them.<\/p>\n
Recalling the nightmare, I've have learned to always be on the
\nalert. Now I prefer going out by taxi, especially after 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
It's useless to rely on the police. The best thing to do is to
\nlook poor because if we show off our valuables, we are only
\ninviting the bandits to rob us.<\/p>\n
It's good to make a quick plan when we want to go out so that
\nwe can arrange what to bring, where to go, how much to spend and
\nso on. Good planning will, at least, minimize the possibility of
\nbecoming a victim of crime.<\/p>\n
Ana, 24, is newly-hired employee of a state-owned bank in
\nSlipi, West Jakarta. She just came to Jakarta last month from her
\nhometown in Salatiga, Central Java:<\/p>\n
I don't worry too much taking public transportation despite
\nthe fact that I'm just a newcomer.<\/p>\n
I always think that if I show fear it will only encourage the
\nthieves.<\/p>\n
But I don't deny the fact that my friends keep telling me
\nabout their harrowing experiences riding on public
\ntransportation.<\/p>\n
From what my friends say, I have learned to be always watchful
\nfor the unexpected.<\/p>\n
I don't take taxis or bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicle)
\nas they are also prone to crimes.<\/p>\n
I prefer to ride ojek (motorcycle taxis) to other kinds of
\npublic transportation.<\/p>\n
Hastin, 32, is an employee of the Taman Anggrek shopping mall
\nwho lives with her husband in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta. She
\ncomes from Yogyakarta and has been living in the city for six
\nyears:<\/p>\n
I'm scared to death now if I have to use public
\ntransportation. I have to be on the watch at all times for street
\ncriminals.<\/p>\n
I often see crimes being committed on public transportation
\nvehicles. I myself have often come close to becoming a victim
\nwhen criminals tried to steal my valuables. I could feel them
\nrummaging in my bag but I couldn't do anything because the bus
\nwas so crowded. Thank God, they didn't find anything. I never
\nthought about these things before.<\/p>\n
When I came here six years ago, I used to go everywhere
\nwithout worrying too much about street crime. But now, I always
\nthink twice before taking public transportation.<\/p>\n
I think we need to increase cooperation between the public and
\nthe police. The police have so far failed to take any real action
\nagainst the criminals.<\/p>\n
It will take a very long time to improve the situation as the
\nfeeling of insecurity here has much to do with corruption in the
\npolice force, poor infrastructure and complex social problems.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-was-robbed-by-10-crooks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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