Unmarked vans used to fight crime
Unmarked vans used to fight crime
BEKASI, West Java (JP): The Bekasi police precinct officially
launched six patrol vehicles equipped with security equipment
which will pose as private, regular cars.
The vehicles equipped with video cameras as well as radio
communication and weapons, which do not carry police
identification, will help police to give suspected criminals "a
shock therapy," Lt.Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, the police
precinct chief said yesterday.
Once suspects are caught red-handed by officers in the
vehicles, Alex said, others would be discouraged if they fear
police are around in unidentified vehicles.
Police call the vehicles 'invisible hunter cars' (mobil
pemburu siluman)
Alex said higher police mobility is urgent in Bekasi, where
the ratio of a police officer to civilians is 1 to 2,400.
Crimes often occur in remote, rural, areas in Bekasi, which
covers 148,437 hectares. Police officers number 1,200 while
current population stands at 2.8 million.
"Robbery, burglary and torture are the most frequent criminal
incidents here, followed by car and motorbikes thefts, and rape
and sexual assault," Alex said after the launching ceremony.
Alex, also the president of the Asia Pacific chapter of the
San Fransisco-based Society of Police Futurist International, a
police organization, said the 'invisible' patrol units are the
first of their kind in Indonesia.
The six automobiles were donations from Bekasi Regent Moch.
Djamhari and some private firms such as the Astra Group and PT
Mulia Glass.
Djamhari said that student brawls, clashes between residential
groups and the use of drugs which have occurred in the capital
also happened in Bekasi.
"I am suspicious that such clashes are engineered by certain
individuals," said Djamhari, a lieutenant colonel.
News reports said yesterday that hundreds of residents of the
Mustika Jaya in the Bantar Gebang district attacked neighboring
residents of Nusa Sari Margaluyu.
The attack was initiated by a report that a Nusa Sari resident
seized a watch from a resident of Mustika Jaya. One of the
attackers died and five others were injured.
"We should step up awareness and security order in
anticipating the heating political climate in the face of the
upcoming general election," the regent said. (kod)