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mid rising concerns over so-called begal (robbers who target motorists) and motorcycle gangsters in the city, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers have stepped up their efforts to protect themselves from a crime wave that is most prevalent at night.

In the past few weeks, several ojek drivers have been conducting night patrols in areas where begal gang members usually operate, after the threat of begal forced many drivers to limit their working hours.

Muhamad Nuh, a driver with ride-hailing app GrabBike for example, once joined a patrol with his fellow drivers in Sunter, North Jakarta, to show solidarity among drivers as well to send a message to begal gang members that they are not going to be intimidated.

“There were dozens of drivers that joined the ‘sweep.’ It was not aimed at creating chaos but just a means to protect us,” the 31-year-old driver said, adding that the patrol usually started at 1 a.m.

Go-Jek driver Sunarwan, 50, said that he often received invitations to conduct patrols to clear certain areas in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, where he usually operated.

However, he said that he preferred not to join the patrols for security reasons.

Reports of bike-riding begal have recently emerged in news channels and social media feeds, with the criminals reportedly carrying sharp weapons, including chainsaws, to threaten passing drivers.

In Central Jakarta, a GrabBike driver was recently assaulted in front of a hotel, during the attack his arm was injured and his mobile phone stolen.

Last month, Duren Sawit Police arrested two men who during an attack on a motorist at the East Flood Canal in East Jakarta, at 2 a.m.

The suspects, identified as Rizky Muhammad, 19, and Agustono Triwicaksono, 20, allegedly used chainsaws to threaten their victims.

Duren Sawit Police also arrested four suspected begal gang members while patrolling in East Jakarta. The gang members were found carrying machetes, which were believed to be used to attack their victims.

Following the wave of crime, some motorcycle taxi drivers have limited their working hours.

A Go-Jek driver, Cahya Anugerah, 26, said that he only worked until 8 p.m. and had become more selective in picking up passengers to ensure that the roads he would be passing were safe.

“I frequently ask other drivers before accepting an order, particularly if it’s a new place,” said Cahya, who usually takes orders to and from Central Jakarta.

He said that since the recent wave of begal attacks started, he often received information about begal activities and was told to avoid certain routes or areas. However, not all of the information was accurate, Cahya said.

Go-Jek spokesperson Rindu Ragilia said her office “has always reminded our partners to remain vigilant on the street.”

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono previously said the police would conduct patrols three times daily especially in areas where many begal cases had occurred, adding that most begal cases occurred in East Jakarta and North Jakarta.

As a part of their efforts to reduce the number of begal attacks in the city, the police are mapping areas where they believe a large number of motorcycle gangsters and begal operate.

Some police offices have formed special teams to deal with begal gangs, including the Jaguar Team in Depok, West Java, and the Tiger Team, a quick-response team responsible for combating street crime in North Jakarta.

Last year, the Jakarta Police recorded 719 cases of robberies with violence, an 11 percent increase from the 641 cases in 2015. Begal attacks are included in the violent theft statistics. Unfortunately, the police do not have specific figures on the number of begal cases.