'I was robbed by 10 crooks'

'I was robbed by 10 crooks'

Traffic jams are not the only difficulties facing commuters.
Crimes committed on public transportation vehicles often leave
the victims traumatized. Some of them shared their experiences
with The Jakarta Post.

Anton, 40, is an assistant manager in a department store in
Permata Hijau, South Jakarta. He lives in Tangerang with his wife
and only son, and has been there for more than 20 years:

Public transportation is the worst. No one now feels safe
taking public transportation.

I think the correct conditions will last much longer than most
of us realize. It is, if I may say so, almost impossible to
eradicate street crime. Everyone has to fight hard to survive and
they are sometimes forced to commit crimes to survive.

The law and its enforcers are no longer effective in coping
with the problems. For instance, students are becoming even more
violent. They even hijack public transportation vehicles. And
what can the authorities do to deal with it? Nothing.

I am still traumatized by when I was robbed by more than 10
crooks who left me with nothing but the clothes on my back in a
bus on Jl. Thamrin several years ago.

Atik, 28, is a councillor at the Pembangunan Jaya school in
Bintaro. She was born and still resides in Condet, East Jakarta,
with her family:

Public transportation is not safe at all. The public are
frightened by the frequency with which crimes take place aboard
buses.

I had a traumatic experience when I was threatened with a
knife held to my side on a public minivan heading to Cililitan. I
lost Rp 20,000, the only money I had in my wallet. Luckily my
valuables and camera were safe in my bag as the crooks -- five of
them who pretended to be passengers and were in cahoots with the
driver -- knew nothing about them.

Recalling the nightmare, I've have learned to always be on the
alert. Now I prefer going out by taxi, especially after 9 p.m.

It's useless to rely on the police. The best thing to do is to
look poor because if we show off our valuables, we are only
inviting the bandits to rob us.

It's good to make a quick plan when we want to go out so that
we can arrange what to bring, where to go, how much to spend and
so on. Good planning will, at least, minimize the possibility of
becoming a victim of crime.

Ana, 24, is newly-hired employee of a state-owned bank in
Slipi, West Jakarta. She just came to Jakarta last month from her
hometown in Salatiga, Central Java:

I don't worry too much taking public transportation despite
the fact that I'm just a newcomer.

I always think that if I show fear it will only encourage the
thieves.

But I don't deny the fact that my friends keep telling me
about their harrowing experiences riding on public
transportation.

From what my friends say, I have learned to be always watchful
for the unexpected.

I don't take taxis or bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicle)
as they are also prone to crimes.

I prefer to ride ojek (motorcycle taxis) to other kinds of
public transportation.

Hastin, 32, is an employee of the Taman Anggrek shopping mall
who lives with her husband in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta. She
comes from Yogyakarta and has been living in the city for six
years:

I'm scared to death now if I have to use public
transportation. I have to be on the watch at all times for street
criminals.

I often see crimes being committed on public transportation
vehicles. I myself have often come close to becoming a victim
when criminals tried to steal my valuables. I could feel them
rummaging in my bag but I couldn't do anything because the bus
was so crowded. Thank God, they didn't find anything. I never
thought about these things before.

When I came here six years ago, I used to go everywhere
without worrying too much about street crime. But now, I always
think twice before taking public transportation.

I think we need to increase cooperation between the public and
the police. The police have so far failed to take any real action
against the criminals.

It will take a very long time to improve the situation as the
feeling of insecurity here has much to do with corruption in the
police force, poor infrastructure and complex social problems.