TNI Chief Approves Troops' Assistance in Street Robbery Crackdown, But with Caveats

Jakarta – TNI Public Affairs Chief Brigadier General Muhammad Nas stated that TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto has given the ‘green light’ for troops to assist in handling street robberies.

‘There are no specific instructions from the TNI commander for anti-street robbery operations, but he has approved or permitted TNI personnel to act on the principle that their presence on the ground is part of supporting the police,’ Nas said when questioned by ANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday, 28 May 2026.

According to Nas, the TNI will not be directly involved in arrests, legal enforcement, or suspect interrogations. He added that the military’s role is solely to assist the police in ensuring public safety from street robberies.

Therefore, to prevent overlapping duties between the TNI and police on the ground, Nas assured that coordination with Polri will be strengthened to maximise the handling of street robberies.

‘The TNI and Polri always coordinate and collaborate in accordance with their respective duties and authorities to ensure operations remain within legal boundaries,’ he said.

Street robberies have recently become more frequent in several areas, including Jakarta.

In Jakarta, such incidents frequently occur in various areas, particularly in West Jakarta.

The Jakarta Barat City Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimko) plans to install surveillance cameras at high-risk locations following the rise in street robberies in the area.

‘The first point is the provision of surveillance cameras at high-risk spots, either through individual efforts or by urging all entities in West Jakarta to enhance CCTV security in their respective areas, such as buildings, offices, and businesses,’ said West Jakarta Mayor Iin Mutmainnah in Jakarta on Friday, 22 May 2026.

The administration will officially issue a formal advisory letter to institutions and businesses in West Jakarta regarding CCTV installation.

‘We will issue the advisory letter as part of implementing the directives from the Governor of DKI Jakarta to strengthen security focus in the area,’ she added.