[b]Deterring street

Deterring street criminals

From Suara Karya

The public is delighted to witness successful police operations against criminals, as frequently reported on television, or watch bandits being caught red-handed and seized by local people.

A newspaper recently reported the capture of three criminals in their attempted holdup of a public transport vehicle in Jakarta at night. The three, two of whom were recidivists, were seized after a passenger resisted their threat and shouted for help, which was responded to by the local community.

Responsiveness and mutual help among citizens in the face criminal action should indeed be further boosted, while the courage of certain individuals to fight thugs and seek community assistance deserves appreciation.

With that kind of public response and solidarity in times of danger, criminals will be deterred. But we all should be highly alert to muggers' attempts, when under pressure, to act and shout as if they were being robbed themselves.

M. HANAFI Jakarta