West Java police chief backs bounty to catch street criminals
Police said the incentive could spur residents to join neighborhood watches and hand suspects to officers alive.
West Java Police Chief Irjen Pipit Rismanto backed West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's bounty offering Rp5 million to Rp50 million for residents who catch begal, copet, jambret, maling, or perampok. Pipit said the move could motivate residents to help maintain neighborhood security. Under the scheme, suspects must be subdued and handed to police alive. Dedi earlier said West Java was on alert for begal and said he had coordinated with Polda Jawa Barat and Polda Metro Jaya. He also called for stronger night patrols, patrol vehicles to keep their rotating lights on, and residents to revive siskamling in vulnerable areas.