Most ojek (motorcycle-taxi) drivers will gladly take the opportunity to take their customers for a ride, especially those travelling long distances. However, they may themselves become victims of motorcycle theft, which, ironically, has happened on a number of occasions in the past month at the Jakarta Police headquarters.
Noto, 30, a parking officer at Jakarta Police in Central Jakarta, said that around nine motorcycles had vanished from inside the office complex within a month.
"The most recent case took place this Tuesday. Once again *as in most cases this month*, a motorcycle belonging to an ojek driver from Cibinong *Bogor, West Java* was stolen," said Noto. The 35-kilometer drive from Cibinong to Jakarta costs at least Rp 50,000 (US$5) by ojek.
Noto, who has worked at the city office for more than 10 years, added that motorcycle thefts happened several times a week.
"Most of the victims are ojek drivers from outside Jakarta. Some are from Bekasi, others from Bogor."
Noto's work colleague testified that the alleged perpetrator was described as "a short, overweight guy."
"Most ojek drivers fit that description," he added.
"This guy is kind of slick. He might also hypnotize his victims before stealing their motorcycle."
The suspected motorcycle thief usually asks ojek drivers to drop him inside the police compound; then, he asks the ojek driver to wait outside as drivers usually wear rubber sandals and therefore cannot be admitted inside the compound; and finally runs away with the vehicle, said Noto.
"The guy might also play it tough with the ojek driver, convincingly impersonating a police officer.
"Once the thief has intimidated the driver, he will voluntarily hand over his motorcycle and registration license *STNK*," he said.
Noto said parking attendants at that particular exit gate found it hard to stop the perpetrator, especially with a broken security camera.
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