Police shoot 12, arrest 521 but crimes continue

Rendi A. Witular The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Jakarta police have revealed they shot dead 12 suspects and arrested 521 others allegedly involved in 357 street crime cases in the past three months.

But the figures, to be officially announced on Friday, did not impress members of the public interviewed by The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Sutikno, 28, an employee with a private company in Mega Kuningan complex, South Jakarta, questioned the effectiveness of police's attempts in fighting street crime.

"I was pickpocketed last week by some seven crooks inside a crowded bus," he said, adding the crime took place on the air- conditioned bus between Kalideres and Kampung Melayu.

Passengers were often threatened by people claiming to be ex- inmates from the Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta, he said.

"Their appearance was frightening and they forced us to give between Rp 1,000 and Rp 5,000," said Sutikno.

Sutikno said police had arrested many suspected pickpockets but the crimes continued.

Jakarta Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri claimed the number of arrests was evidence of the police's success in reducing the number of crimes and enhancing public safety.

Suspects were charged with crimes ranging from pickpocketing, illegal weapon possession, extortion and looting to robbery, including thefts aboard public buses.

Police also confiscated 44 sharp weapons such as swords and knives.

The most crime-prone bus routes were the Andalas regular bus serving Pulogadung-Ciputat; Kopaja minibus S66 serving Manggarai- Block M; Metromini minibus 07 serving Semper-Senen; L-300 minibus serving Bekasi-Pulogadung; Metromini minibus U-29 serving Tanjung Priok-Senen; and Mayasari regular bus 9B serving Bekasi-Kampung Rambutan.