Next week’s extended Idul Fitri holiday, which will see millions of travelers hit the seas, skies and roads, is prompting demand for home security services.

However, those looking to go on vacation for more than a week are pressed for options when it comes to security arrangements for their empty homes.

Those who can afford it are toying with the idea of hiring people to keep an eye on their soon-to-be-vacant houses.

Kuswanto Herdiansyah, a father of two living in Kebon Jeruk in West Jakarta, is lucky enough to have a neighbor, Johny, who is willing to look after his property while he is away.

The 48-year-old manager of a consulting company and his family plan to depart for his hometown of Surakarta, Central Java, on Wednesday to celebrate Idul Fitri with his extended family and return to Jakarta after 10 days or so. As this year’s Idul Fitri will fall on June 5, some residents plan to leave the city as early as a week prior.

Kuswanto agreed to pay Johny Rp 200,000 (US$14) per day.

“We’ve known each other well for a long time. So I trust him,” Kuswanto said on Saturday, adding that as Johny was a Christian who did not celebrate Idul Fitri, he had free time during the holiday season.

Johny, 33, who lives about 50 meters from Kuswanto’s house, said he was happy with the temporary security job because it would be less exhausting than his regular one as an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver who earned Rp 150,000 a day.

It will be the fifth consecutive year he guards Kuswanto’s house during the Idul Fitri holiday.

“It’s quite an easy job. I am allowed to stay in the house and keep it from being burglarized. Sometimes I clean the house too,” he said.

Plans to hire a security guard were also set in motion by Wilda Fizriyani, 42, who is set to travel to Surabaya for four days.

She reckoned that most of her neighbors in Rawa Belong, West Jakarta, would leave for the holiday too, so she wanted to hire someone to guard her house.

“It’s quite an easy job. I am allowed to stay in the house and keep it from being burglarized. Sometimes I clean the house too.”

The decision came following an incident at her neighbor’s house, which was burglarized while the owner was away on vacation during Idul Fitri last year. A TV and cameras were stolen.

She allocated Rp 200,000 a day to pay a local security guard in her neighborhood whom she hired last year for the same purpose. The security guard would be given access to only her living room, kitchen and bathroom.

“He will be allowed to sleep on the sofa and take a bath in the house,” she said.

Some have used the demand for such services as an opportunity to drum up business.

Agus Hilmawan, a security officer at a private bank, created an online platform offering his services to those with Idul Fitri travel plans.

With his office closed for the holiday week, he is looking to help guard upscale housing complex Pantai Indah Kapuk in North Jakarta.

Agus advertised his service on OLX, a local online marketplace that focuses on specialized goods and services.

“I posted my ad yesterday. No one has contacted me so far. I hope I can make money during the holiday,” the 27-year-old said.

The Jakarta Police have been on high alert for street crimes, such as brawls between gangs, during Ramadan.

Kuswanto and Wilda are among 14.9 million people, or 44 percent of Greater Jakarta’s population, who are expected to leave the city for Idul Fitri.

The Transportation Ministry estimated about 23 million people will take part in the exodus. The figure is a 4.14 percent increase from last year.

The 2019 exodus season will start on May 31, five days prior to Idul Fitri, and return traffic is expected to reach its peak on June 9. Most will travel on roads.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Saturday that the police would launch Operasi Ketupat as part of security measures for the exodus. (das)