Robbed in Pasar Raya

Robbed in Pasar Raya

Robbed again! On two separate occasions I have been robbed in
Pasar Raya department store. Both times I lost camera equipment.
Some friends have suggested that people in Blok M, South Jakarta,
are familiar with my routines such as drinking coffee in a
particular Cafe and taking photographs in the Blok M area. This
may be true and now that I have no camera equipment left to
steal, I probably will change my routine.

Pasar Raya department store prides itself on being an up-
market store that attracts not only locals but expatriates too.
Unfortunately it is situated in an area that is notorious for
crime and so the store is also an ideal place for thieves to
operate.

The security office on the third floor has a huge collection
of photographs of thieves caught in the store and the parking
area. Budi, the head of security admits that camera surveillance
equipment in the store is not operational and hasn't been for
over a year. Budi assured me that they would look into the matter
and that I would be contacted within a day or two.

Typically, there has been no words. Budi speaks with an
affected drool that is indicative of the retired army man here.
We are a nuisance (upset customers) and no doubt spoiling his
afternoon when he'd rather be paying golf. I also faxed a copy of
the letter that I planned to send to The Jakarta Post to the head
of public relations, but again there was no response, just a wall
of silence.

I assume that thieves know that the security is lax in this
particular store and that robbing customers is relatively easy in
the food court area. People sit and relax while thieves prowl the
area looking for a likely victim. It is an unpleasant thought,
but if security officers catch only a small percentage of
thieves, then there must be a lot of them considering the
quantity of photographs I saw in the security office.

As well as that, robbing customers in a department store is
not as risky as robbing someone in the street. Those who got
caught in a store do not get mobbed to death by an angry crowd.
Department stores may have to guarantee customers safety, but
they should be held accountable if little effort is made to
maximize security.

Pasar Raya department store is not a safe place to have a
coffee or something to eat. If you plan to shop there, be careful
and don't stop to take the weight of your feet. You are being
watched!

JOHN C. TORR

Jakarta