Store owners say police must provide security

Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) executive director Tutum Rahanta said on Tuesday that the police’s suggestion to arm minimarket guards with airsoft guns to defend the stores against robberies was “a ridiculous idea”.

“I’m not saying it can’t be done. I’m saying that, if we actually do that, it will show that the cops are actually overwhelmed by the recent spike of minimarket robberies and that they can’t do their job,” Tutum told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

There has been a sudden spike of minimarket robberies in the Greater Jakarta area in the last 55 days, during which the metropolitan area saw at least 13 robberies. Financial losses are estimated at around Rp 149.5 million (US$16,295.50), not counting the stolen goods.

Of those robberies, six occurred at Alfamart, four at Circle-K, two at Indomaret, and one at Alfa Express. Four of the robberies took place in a span of less than 36 hours from Sunday afternoon to early Tuesday.

One robber made off with around Rp 1 million in a holdup at a Circle-K branch on Jl. K.S. Tubun in Palmerah, West Jakarta, at around 4 p.m. on Sunday. Two armed robberies followed on Monday: one at an Alfamart in Cibitung, Bekasi, and the other at an Indomaret in Pulogadung, East Jakarta.

The latest incident took place at an Alfamart in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, at 1:30 p.m. on early Tuesday. Seven burglars tied up three of the store’s clerks and walked off with Rp 14 million in cash, as well as the CCTV recording tape and a few boxes of milk and cigarettes.

This spate of robberies has raised concerns over the availability of security guards and the reliability of security systems in many of the city’s minimarkets.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Baharuddin Djafar told reporters on Tuesday that the police would increase their patrols around minimarkets prone to robbery. “However, this alone will not be enough, because the police have a limited number of personnel,” he said. “I strongly suggest all these minimarkets to guard themselves. If they deem airsoft guns are needed, we will provide the firearms’ licenses.”

He said store owners could arrange for the licenses at the city police’s intelligence and security directorate. “However, the store owners will have to come to us on their own accord. This is not mandatory, merely a suggestion,” Baharuddin said.

Tutum, however, scoffed at the idea. “If only one or two stores were robbed, then maybe it’s the stores’ own fault. Maybe their security systems were indeed not up to standards,” Tutum said.

“However, when this many stores from several different chains were targeted by criminals, then the problem lies in the city’s safety and security, and it’s the police’s job to deal with that.”

Alfamart spokesman Yulianto told the Post that all their stores were equipped with security systems that are up to standard.

“All of them have CCTVs and alarms. They also pay men from the store’s surrounding residential areas to guard the stores,” he said over the phone.

He added that he hoped the recent robberies would not lessen the public’s trust in Alfamart stores.

Baharuddin refused to disclose much about the investigation of the robberies, as it is still ongoing. It is still unknown whether all the robberies were done by the same group of thieves or not. (mim)