Foreign Media Highlight Jakarta Crime Cases as Weak Rupiah Becomes a Boon

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Recent viral street crime incidents in Jakarta have led some to compare the city to Gotham City, the fictional crime-ridden metropolis from Batman comics. However, this has not deterred Singaporean tourists from visiting the Indonesian capital.

According to The Straits Times, recent videos have shown motorcycle snatch-and-grab and robbery incidents across various parts of Jakarta, with victims including both locals and foreign tourists.

On May 8, 2026, a Polish national’s bag was snatched in Kebon Sirih, Menteng. On May 14, an Italian tourist had their phone stolen while waiting for a ride-hailing service near Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (HI). A German tourist was also robbed of their phone at Pos Bloc in Pasar Baru.

In response to growing public concern, the Jakarta Regional Police (Polda Metro Jaya) reported resolving 171 street crime cases and arresting 103 suspects in the first five months of 2026.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has urged stricter law enforcement against street crime, proposing an integrated surveillance system that combines government, police, private building, and institutional cameras.

“If implemented, this would be an early monitoring system to prevent crime in Jakarta,” Pramono said, cited by The Straits Times on June 1, 2026.

Despite this, several Singaporean tourists interviewed by The Straits Times said they remain comfortable visiting Jakarta, with the weak rupiah making the city more appealing for shopping and dining.

“No time to be scared, there’s too much shopping to do,” joked Noraini Rahmat, 52, who visited Jakarta with two relatives from May 22-25 for shopping.

Noraini added that vigilance is still necessary, but the situation is not much different from other major cities. “Of course, when videos go viral, people talk about them. But honestly, we’re just being cautious as we would in Singapore or any other big city,” she said.