Robbery with assault surging in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Robbery involving violence which causes death or serious injury remained the third most common crime recorded in the city during the first four months of this year, with almost eight cases reported every day.

According to police data (left) for the January to April period made available to The Jakarta Post, the other two most common crimes in the city are armed robbery with almost four cases recorded per day, and vehicle theft with almost 10 motorcycles and at least two cars stolen per day.

Other serious crimes included aggravated assault with 1.4 cases reported per day, arson with one case per day, drug offenses with one case every two days, rape with one case per three and a half days and homicide with one case every four days.

Street demonstrations as well as workers' protests and strikes slightly increased over the past four months. Most were in protest against the political climate or labor welfare conditions.

During the four-month period, police also recorded 30 to 40 people killed in traffic accidents and between 15 and 20 people crushed by trains in and around the city. (bsr)