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."