Residents watch over vacant residences

Residents watch over vacant residences

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

With more and more robberies affecting houses left vacant during
the Idul Fitri holiday in recent years, many areas in Tangerang
have established their own "neighborhood watch" systems.

Mulyono, 45, a resident of the Bumi Serpong Damai housing
complex in Serpong district, said that he always gave some money
to the complex's security guards to watch over his house.

"But it's not enough to ensure safety ... I never forget to
ask a next door neighbor to check on my house once in a while," the
father of three who plans to celebrate Idul Fitri in his hometown
of Ciamis, West Java, told The Jakarta Post.

A resident of the Bintaro housing complex in Pondok Aren
district, Rachmat, 56, said that he has no worries about leaving
his home vacant while the family enjoy the holiday out of town.

"All of the residents have made an agreement that those who do
not return to their hometowns will look after the vacant houses
until the owners return," he said.

"Moreover, the housing complex management have dozens of
security guards to patrol the complex around the clock," Rachmat
added.

Tangerang's mayor, Wahidin Halim, has asked the police and the
public to observe utmost vigilance to prevent the burglarization
of vacant houses over the holiday.

The municipal administration estimates that 1.4 million people
will join the annual pilgrimage home this year.

"So, as many houses will be left vacant by their owners for a
while, we have a responsibility to make security efforts to
protect their houses and prevent robberies," he said.

Meanwhile, Tangerang Police chief Sr. Comr. Raja Erizman said
that he had instructed all subprecinct police chiefs to play an
active role in providing security in residential areas.

"We will collect data about the houses being left vacant
during the holidays," he said.

Police patrols would watch over residential areas prone to
robberies, he added.

"But we need the residents to cooperate with us in maintaining
security in their own neighborhoods."