Street vendors raided

BOGOR: The local administration in cooperation with the police conducted a crackdown on street vendors along Jl. Kapten Muslihat and Jl. Veteran on Tuesday morning following public complaints about pickpockets in the area.

Dozens of vendors, shocked by the sudden raid, argued with the officers. But they later agreed to leave the spot upon admitting that they did not possess permits to operate there.

Epen, 33, who sells T-shirts, asked the government to relocate them.

A Bogor municipal officer, Adang Rachmat, suggested that they move their businesses in the market as the administration was unable to provide them with a new trading site.

Adang said that similar raids against street vendors would be conducted once a month.

"We launched the crackdown because there have been lots of complaints from the public about pickpockets operating in the area," he said.--21