Robbed in Pasar Raya<\/p>\n
Robbed again! On two separate occasions I have been robbed in
\nPasar Raya department store. Both times I lost camera equipment.
\nSome friends have suggested that people in Blok M, South Jakarta,
\nare familiar with my routines such as drinking coffee in a
\nparticular Cafe and taking photographs in the Blok M area. This
\nmay be true and now that I have no camera equipment left to
\nsteal, I probably will change my routine.<\/p>\n
Pasar Raya department store prides itself on being an up-
\nmarket store that attracts not only locals but expatriates too.
\nUnfortunately it is situated in an area that is notorious for
\ncrime and so the store is also an ideal place for thieves to
\noperate.<\/p>\n
The security office on the third floor has a huge collection
\nof photographs of thieves caught in the store and the parking
\narea. Budi, the head of security admits that camera surveillance
\nequipment in the store is not operational and hasn't been for
\nover a year. Budi assured me that they would look into the matter
\nand that I would be contacted within a day or two.<\/p>\n
Typically, there has been no words. Budi speaks with an
\naffected drool that is indicative of the retired army man here.
\nWe are a nuisance (upset customers) and no doubt spoiling his
\nafternoon when he'd rather be paying golf. I also faxed a copy of
\nthe letter that I planned to send to The Jakarta Post to the head
\nof public relations, but again there was no response, just a wall
\nof silence.<\/p>\n
I assume that thieves know that the security is lax in this
\nparticular store and that robbing customers is relatively easy in
\nthe food court area. People sit and relax while thieves prowl the
\narea looking for a likely victim. It is an unpleasant thought,
\nbut if security officers catch only a small percentage of
\nthieves, then there must be a lot of them considering the
\nquantity of photographs I saw in the security office.<\/p>\n
As well as that, robbing customers in a department store is
\nnot as risky as robbing someone in the street. Those who got
\ncaught in a store do not get mobbed to death by an angry crowd.
\nDepartment stores may have to guarantee customers safety, but
\nthey should be held accountable if little effort is made to
\nmaximize security.<\/p>\n
Pasar Raya department store is not a safe place to have a
\ncoffee or something to eat. If you plan to shop there, be careful
\nand don't stop to take the weight of your feet. You are being
\nwatched!<\/p>\n
JOHN C. TORR<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/robbed-in-pasar-raya-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }