Firms need better security: Police

BOGOR (JP): The local police have urged businessmen to protect their offices and factories with a reliable security system in a bid to curb the rising number of armed burglaries in the area.

Bogor Regional Police chief Col. Edi Darnadi made the statement on Monday following two separate burglaries at factories in the early hours of Monday morning.

"Businesspeople should install alarms, sophisticated locks or the like to prevent burglaries at their factories or offices," he said.

So far, owners have entrusted their security guards and the local police to safeguard their assets, Edi said.

Their dependence only on local police is not enough, he said.

Edi referred to the situation the security guards were in during the burglaries on Monday.

"The security guards were not able to act after they were threatened with sickles," he said.

The first burglary took place at an electronic company, PT Malco Indah, on Jl. Raya Sentul-Citeureup. Twelve armed burglars made off with computers, fax machines and the factory's safety deposit box.

Armed with guns and rifles, the offenders overcame the three security guards on duty, who were later identified as Endih, Paryono and Unep.

A group of some 20 robbers broke into an export garment factory, PT Troas Indah Abadi, on Jl. Baru Kemang.

The offenders took 24 sewing machines and hundreds of articles of clothing ready for export and loaded them onto three trucks.

They also overcame the three security guards at the factory.

Police are still probing the case and estimating the loss. (21/nvn)