Armed robbery almost daily occurrence in February

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The number of robberies in the capital involving firearms has reached an alarming level, with data from Jakarta Police Headquarters showing that armed robberies occurred almost every day in the first two weeks of this month.

Twenty armed robberies were recorded in January, with at least 10 innocent people killed. In comparison, at least 13 armed robberies were recorded in the first two weeks of February alone, claiming five lives.

Police data also shows that the number of armed robberies jumped threefold in January to February compared to the same period last year, which recorded only 10 cases.

The most recent case was the Feb. 11 armed robbery at Bank Lippo Tangerang, in which two pretended to be customers applying for a loan. The two then pulled out guns and threatened the employees, and fled with Rp 300 million.

The two bank robbers were captured two days later.

The day before the bank heist, Mulyadi, 35, who worked as a security guard at a factory in Tangerang, was shot dead in front of his home while defending himself against five armed men. After shooting Mulyadi, the robbers stole the dead man's motorcycle.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono acknowledged that armed robbery was escalating. He said robbers were switching from arming themselves with traditional weapons, such as swords, machetes and knives, to guns to anticipate encounters with the police and to threaten victims more effectively.

"We realize that more and more robbers are using guns in committing crimes. We have already taken several measures to prevent armed robbery, including deploying more plainclothes officers and providing 24-hour patrols in areas prone to such crimes," he told The Jakarta Post.

Tjiptono said police stations had been built in every subdistrict in the capital, and alert systems had been installed, such as the police radio station, the 1717 police emergency short message service and mobile patrols with satellite positioning capabilities.

He said the police had identified several areas in North and East Jakarta, Bekasi and Depok as well as Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta as hotbeds of armed crime, and had deployed more plainclothes police to those locations.

Police have succeeded several times in capturing members of armed gangs, including a syndicate known as the Demak gang, which is based in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

But many members of other robbery gangs, such as the Banten, Palembang and Indramayu syndicates, remain at large.

So far, little has been done to crack down on gun suppliers who deal in illicit weaponry or to investigate the sources of illegal firearms, even though there are clear indications that an organized trade exists in supplying criminals and criminal groups.

The recent attempt to smuggle 534 guns from Taiwan by a local company partly explains why criminals can procure firearms so easily.

Many residents have expressed fear that they or members of their families might fall victim to an armed robbery or a shooting.

Jakartans have every reason to be afraid, as at least 100,000 unregistered guns are believed to be circulating in the capital -- many of which are allegedly used to commit crimes.

Armed robberies in first 11 days of February:

No. Date Incident Victims Value of theft (Rp/million)

1. Feb. 1 eight people break into a house in Cipete, South Jakarta Hasbinal, 45, injured 50

2. Feb. 1 four muggers beat, shoot resident of Pinang, Tangerang, Banten Bambang, 28, dead from chest wound 20

3. Feb. 2 several people rob a resident of Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, Herdiva Andreas, 21, injured 5

4. Feb. 2 four motorcyclists rob a businessman in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta Moh. Sukeda, 45, 50

5. Feb. 2 10 men break into a construction material shop in Tegal Jampang, Bogor, West Java Sugiawan injured 175

6. Feb. 5 two men pretending to be technicians rob a house in Bintaro, South Jakarta Mahmuriah, 69, injured 10

7. Feb. 6 Several men break into an office in Cideng Timur, Central Jakarta steal 15 computers - 100

8. Feb. 6 Several men break into into an office in Kebon Kacang, Tanah Abang, C. Jakarta - 100

9. Feb. 7 Five people break into a house in Tanah Abang, steal electronics, cash Dede Yodono, 23, injured 100

10. Feb. 10 Four men steal motorcycle, Mulyadi, 35, shot dead 10

11.* Feb. 11 Two men rob Lippo Bank, Tangerang, Banten 300

* Robbers arrested two days after the crime; all other cases are ongoing investigations