Jakarta Police Form Anti-Theft Squad, to Patrol High-Risk Areas 24/7

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police has formed an Anti-Theft Squad. The officers will patrol for 24 hours a day.

The anti-theft squad will be equipped with weapons while on duty.

“We have also prepared the Anti-Theft Squad, which is ready to operate 24 hours a day to help us keep Jakarta even safer,” said the Director of General Criminal Investigation at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Pol. Iman Imanudin, during a press conference at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters, Friday (May 15, 2026).

“We will deploy them at various points that are quite vulnerable to crime,” he said.

In addition to the patrol team, the police are also working with social media activists to follow up on crimes that occur and are documented.

“Because we need active collaboration so that we can all move quickly. The speed at which we receive information will help us to quickly uncover cases or incidents that occur,” said Iman.

“We have to act appropriately and decisively. If it doesn’t endanger lives, we can’t use firearms. If the perpetrator is unarmed, we can’t. But if they want to harm us, citizens, or the surrounding area, we will take appropriate, firm, and decisive action,” said Budi.

In the last five months, the police have arrested 103 suspects in 171 cases of street crime or theft. 13 of these originated from reports via social media.

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