The crime rate in Denpasar dropped significantly prior to and during the Idul Fitri holidays, the city's police chief announced Wednesday.
"There have been decreases of up to 50 percent, which is quite significant," said Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. I Gede Alit Widana, adding the declining trend had begun a week before Idul Fitri.
Denpasar Police usually receive seven to 10 crime reports a day, Widana went on, but only received one to four cases daily during the holidays.
"I believe this significant decrease is to a large extent the result of increased police presence during the holidays," he said.
More than 1,500 officers were deployed around Denpasar's streets, commercial centers and housing estates during this period.
"The patrolling officers were instructed to pay special attention to residential areas, because many homes had been left vacant by owners leaving Bali to celebrate the holidays in their home villages in Java and Lombok," Widana said.
Burglars often target such empty houses during the holiday period.
Widana said Denpasar Police were still conducting special operations to keep major crimes at bay in the days immediately following the holiday.
"During this period, we'll get a large influx of people entering the city after vacationing outside Bali," he said.
"We must ensure that the returning masses are not exploited by criminals or terrorists."
A large contingent of uniformed officers has been posted at Ubung Terminal in northern Denpasar.
Ubung is the largest interprovincial bus terminal in Bali, and is the focal point of both the exodus and return waves.
"The officers will check passengers' belongings and luggage for dangerous items that could pose a security threat to the island," Widana said.
He added such items could include explosives.
The resort island was struck twice by terrorist attacks.
The first terrorist bombings in 2002 in Legian killed 202 people, mostly foreigners, while the second bombings in 2005 in Kuta and Jimbaran claimed more than 20 lives.
In both cases, the terrorists had smuggled the explosives in through the island's ferry port and then over land.
The local police have since then maintained high alert during mass people movements to the island, such as during the Idul Fitri and Christmas holidays.
"We're working with the local administration and community elders to monitor incoming migrant workers entering the island in the days immediately after Idul Fitri," Widana said.
The police, assisted by the military, set up security posts at road intersections, public transportation terminals, ferry harbors and the airport.
The Udayana Military Command, which oversees military affairs in Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, assigned 240 Army officers to participate in the joint security operation.
JP/ Ni Komang Erviani
