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View all search resultsAfter Medan, police securing RI banks
The National Police are increasing security at banks across Indonesia, while the finance minister has called for more vigilance after last week’s fatal bank heist
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T
he National Police are increasing security at banks across Indonesia, while the finance minister has called for more vigilance after last week’s fatal bank heist.
Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said that banks and other companies holding supplies of cash should be on high alert after the robbery of a CIMB Niaga bank branch in Medan, North Sumatra.
More than a dozen robbers armed with pistols and automatic rifles shot dead a police officer and escaped with more than Rp 500 million (US$55,500) on Wednesday.
“Banks and other companies have to be more cautious about such crimes,” Agus told The Jakarta Post during a visit to Petisah market in Medan on Saturday with several other Cabinet ministers.
Agus also called on communities to be vigilant and on the police to bring the case to justice expeditiously.
“The robbers have to be brought to justice since it will serve as a lesson for others not to commit crime.”
The robbery has prompted banks throughout the nation to step up security.
Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang said the police would beef up security in Semarang’s banks and jewelry stores, especially around Kranggan, a center for gold jewelry sales.
“The police officers we have deployed are fully armed, and include plainclothes officers,” said Central Java Police spokesman Djoko Erwanto.
There have been several robberies in the province since the start of Ramadan, including two jewelry store heists in Grobogan and Klaten. Four armed robbers also stole Rp 740 million from a gas station in Pademangan, North Jakarta.
The Batang Police urged the regency’s banks and jewelry stores to install television surveillance and alarm systems.
“The systems would help to scare off criminals, and if there is a crime, we can find out who they are,” Batang Police chief Adj. Comr. M. Nasikhin said Saturday, adding that 80 percent of Batang’s banks and gold jewelry stores had CCTV systems.
In Bengkulu, police said two officers had been deployed at all of the province’s bank branches.
“The reinforcements will hopefully deter attempted robbery at local banks,” Bengkulu police chief Adj. Sn. Comr. Asep Teddy said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Police in Padang, West Sumatra, said there was a failed attempt to rob a Bank Mandiri ATM on Saturday.
“The bandits used firearms. There were seven of them,” said chief detective Adj. Comr. Bambang Suharyono.
He added that two men entered the ATM while two men carrying guns stood outside and three waited in a car.
“They tried to break the machine but failed. They did not want to risk drawing more public attention
and fled.”
