Surabaya Police Reveals 58 Street Crime Cases

Surabaya Police Chief Kombes Akhmad Yusep Gunawan released the arrests of street crime cases from January to February 2022. ANTARA/Didik Suhartono.

SURABAYA - The City Police (Polrestabes) Surabaya, East Java, uncovered 58 cases of street crimes over two months, from January to February 2022.

Surabaya Police Chief Kombes Akhmad Yusep Gunawan detailed that the street crime cases consisted of 34 cases of motorcycle theft and 24 cases of violent theft or robbery.

"We have arrested a total of 47 perpetrators," he told reporters in Surabaya as reported by Antara, Saturday, March 5.

He said that most cases of motorcycle theft and robbery occurred in the Sukolilo and Tambakasari sub-districts from January to February.

"In the two sub-districts, each recorded as many as 24 case incidents," he said.

For the perpetrators of theft of motorcycles, he continued, the modus operandi was mostly done by surveying the location first.

"The perpetrators of this motorbike theft were driving a car while conducting the survey. Most of them were riding motorbikes," he added.

After getting the target, the perpetrator then took advantage of the condition of the victim who was careless because he parked the motorbike without a double safety lock.

As for the modus operandi of the robbers, he said, the gang of perpetrators usually looks for targets by traveling around the city of Surabaya. The perpetrator then followed the victim to then stop the vehicle on the side of the road and beat him up.

"There is another modus operandi of the robbers to immobilize their victims by kicking, squeezing, and even slashing at the victim. After the victim was helpless, the gang of perpetrators not only took valuables, but also took the victim's motorbike away," he explained.

Yusep appreciates people who provide information on social media when they encounter cases of street crimes, robberies or motorcycle thefts.

"That way, members of the Surabaya Police Criminal Investigation Unit can immediately follow up. We have been working with the government in an effort to hunt down street crimes," he said.

The existence of surveillance cameras in the form of closed circuit television (CCTV) on various highways is very helpful for the police in catching the perpetrators of street crimes.