Fresh patrols to fight crimes

BEKASI, West Java (JP): The Bekasi police precinct launched an around-the-clock patrol yesterday by mobilizing five vans and 100 bicycles in an effort to rid the town of crime, which has been on the rise in the past few months.

"The launching of the fresh patrols is aimed at intensifying our operations against crimes mainly in housing complexes," the chief of the Bekasi police precinct, Lt. Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, said yesterday.

Alex said that the vans and bicycles were donated by private companies operating in the region.

He said that the number of crimes in the regency has grown symmetrically with urbanization and the development of new housing and industrial estates.

Data from the local administration shows there are currently 750,000 houses in 340 complexes and 14 industrial estates which house 600 companies.

At present the Bekasi population is recorded at some 2.8 million, with an annual increase of 4.45 percent from urbanization and 1.84 percent from births.

Alex said the number of police officers in the regency is 1,200, meaning one officer to every 2,330 people.

He said the number of motorcycle and car thefts occurring in housing complexes last month was recorded at 60.

Bekasi has been rocked by rape, robbery and violent crimes in recent months. (kod)