Surabaya residents hire extra guards for holiday

Surabaya residents hire extra guards for holiday

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya

Extra security guards were hired by many housing complexes in
Surabaya as home owners sought peace of mind while celebrating
Idul Fitri back in their hometowns.

Prior to the annual exodus, a number of housing complexes
hired ordinary people to provide extra security alongside the
regular security guards.

"Since the prices of basic necessities shot up following the
fuel price increases, tenants leaving for their hometowns are
more worried about security. In previous years there have been
many thefts, so imagine now with the prices of basic necessities
on the rise," said Putu, a neighborhood chief in a housing
complex in Sidoarjo, Surabaya.

Putu said that during last year's Idul Fitri, residents
trusted a couple of security guards to protect their houses, but
this year were afraid to leave their houses unguarded.

One resident, he added, had hired several watchmen to guard
his house.

Iqbal, 30, who lives in Buduran, Sidoarjo, is one of those
people who have been recruited as an additional security guard
for a salary of Rp 50,000 (US$5) per day.

Carrying several books and a pen, without a uniform or any
sort of security equipment, Iqbal did his rounds in a housing
complex in Sidoarjo.

Iqbal and three of his friends were hired to assist four
regular security guards at the complex.

"For the sake of security during Idul Fitri, I was hired by
the management of the housing complex to keep a record of
residents who have left for their hometowns. I will work here
until a week after the Idul Fitri holiday," he told The Jakarta
Post.

Residents who travel for the holiday can pay a fee of Rp
20,000 to have their houses watched over while they are gone.
Residents can even contact the security guards, who have been
provided with cell phones, for daily updates on their homes.

"We have noted the telephone numbers of the tenants who are
away and are ready to report on the situation with their homes,"
said Iqbal.

Working as security guards in a housing complex during the
Idul Fitri holiday is a new experience for Iqbal and his three
friends. Although the work can be taxing, he feels fortunate to
be able to earn some money during the holiday.

Rosihan, 55, another extra security guard, feels the same. He
is prepared to protect residents' houses for Rp 70,000 per day.

Unlike Iqbal, who is inexperienced in the field, Rosihan is a
retired security guard and is paid more than Iqbal because of his
experience.

"The money is pretty good. I am willing to skip the Idul Fitri
celebrations to make some money," he said.