Violence, robbery cases increase

JAKARTA (JP): Police in the greater Jakarta area recorded a significant increase in cases of violence and robberies last month, with vehicle theft and burglary still at the top of the list.

"Possibly, one of the main factors was the release of a large number of prisoners the previous month," City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told reporters on Thursday.

Data from city police, which covers the greater Jakarta area, including Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok, shows that the recorded number of violent crimes went up 46.3 percent, to 79 cases, in May, from 54 cases in the previous month, while robberies increased by 40.16 percent to 178 cases from 127 cases.

Vehicle thefts declined slightly to 429 cases from 488 cases in April and burglaries, mostly occurring in the early hours, were recorded at 396 cases, up from 342 cases.

The total number of crimes in the greater Jakarta area dropped slightly to 1,973 cases from 1,994 cases in April.

According to Bambang, most of the crimes took place in housing complexes and on public roads.

A large number of prisoners, who were jailed for committing such crimes, were released in the previous months, he said.

"Moreover, a large number of criminals arrested during our operations since April last year were also released from jails," the spokesman added.

Also, some of the hoodlums police have sent to rehabilitation courses had asked to leave the centers before completing the programs, Bambang said.

"Which means, many of the suspects in crimes recorded in May were long-time criminals," he explained.

Based on this data, West Jakarta is billed as the area with the highest number of crimes, followed by Bekasi and East Jakarta.

North Jakarta, which is known for its many slum areas, recorded the lowest number of crimes.

"I have nothing to say about why this is so," Bambang said.

The data shows that districts with the highest cases of crime were Taman Sari, Tanjung Duren, Kali Deres and Cengkareng in West Jakarta; Bekasi Kota in Bekasi; and the Duren Sawit, Makassar and Cakung areas in East Jakarta.

Bekasi Kota, for example, recorded 39 cases of vehicle theft last month and 62 burglaries.

In other parts of the city, high-risk areas for parking vehicles are Sawahbesar in Central Jakarta; Tanjung Priok, Kelapa Gading and Koja in North Jakarta; Taman Sari and Tanjung Duren in West Jakarta; Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta; Tangerang Kota in Tangerang; and Sukmajaya in Depok.

Cases of violence took place mostly in Tanah Abang and Senen in Central Jakarta; Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta; Taman Sari in West Jakarta; Cilandak and Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta; Duren Sawit in East Jakarta; Teluk Naga in Tangerang; Bekasi Kota in Bekasi; and Beji in Depok.

Most burglaries were recorded in Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta; Tanjung Priok and Pademangan in North Jakarta; Kali Deres in West Jakarta; Tebet in South Jakarta; Duren Sawit in East Jakarta; Tangerang Kota in Tangerang; Bekasi Kota in Bekasi; and Pancoran Mas in Depok.

Robberies occurred mostly in Senen in Central Jakarta; Tanjung Priok and Pademangan in North Jakarta; Cengkareng and Tanjung Duren in West Jakarta; Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta; Duren Sawit in East Jakarta; Tangerang Kota in Tangerang; Bekasi Kota in Bekasi; and Sukmajaya in Depok.

Items most often taken during burglaries and robberies were electronic goods, cash and jewelry, while in vehicle thefts, Kijang vans, Daihatsu minivans and Honda Astrea and Yamaha RX motorcycles were most often stolen. (bsr)