This entry is not out to scare potential visitors from visiting Jakarta, as with any other country, it serves more as an awareness of what could happen if you are careless in your visit here.

While foreigners are not necessarily the targets of crime, they do stand out as a more vulnerable target compared to fellow Indonesians and invariably just as susceptible to opportunistic crime, and you should be extra vigilant regarding your personal security, if you follow basic safety precautions, you will find your stay in Jakarta relatively uneventful.

According to Interpol: Homicide crime statistics per 100,000 capita in Indonesia is 6x safer than U.S., and 4x safer than Australia, cases for rape is nearly 12x and 18x safer respectively as assault nearly 30x and 170x safer respectively, but of course, these statistics are the recorded cases, however Indonesia is notorious for unreported crimes. Despite the fact that the statistic-gathering abilities of the national police in regards to crime reporting are inconsequential at best, expats agree that the crime rates in Jakarta have been substantially lower than any major western city.

At first glance, most upper class homes in Indonesia seem to reflect a bastion of security. These homes typically have high fences, wrought iron gates and 4-metre walls surrounding the property usually with spikes at the top and watchmen or guards employed around the clock. There are two perspectives to this picture, the neighborhood could be perceived as secure, but on the other hand due to the security precautions implemented, you could argue that the neighborhood is unsafe. The need for these security precautions may be perceived, not actual.

The safest neighborhoods in Indonesia might be the houses with low-fences, visible resident activity and unlocked gates, such as those homes observed in Jogja. Having said all this, Jakarta isn’t all haven and roses. Your sense of personal security is based on a number of factors in your environment, such as your interaction on the streets, your own sense of well-being and of course those elements that are beyond your control.

Because the majority of inhabitants here in Jakarta are poor, unemployed and generally leading a street life, opportunistic crime is rampant on the streets here in Jakarta, and many friends, acquaintances and even Indonesian locals have often warned about the security hazards in Indonesia or “whether it is safe”, needless to say, the answers to this question are as varied and the people responding.

Due to the nature of my stay here in Jakarta, I will only talk about petty crimes that I might experience, most common are small-time scams, with hawkers convincing you to buy something, other possibilities would be snatch-theft, pick pocketing and maybe even small-time robbery.

The list of possible crimes documented in Jakarta is endless. Grievous crimes such as murders or sexual assaults are rare. Most of the street beggars or buskers are pretty harmless and are seeking small change, so it’s a good idea to keep some loose change or small notes in your pocket. But whilst the majority of the existing populace aren’t desperate nor have malicious intent, there are petty small-time opportunistic crime is still common on the streets. Petty theft and minor robberies do occur on the streets. Thieves climb over the walls to steal small items, electronics, cash and other items of value.

Just as in any major metropolitan area anywhere in the world, there are areas of Jakarta that may not be safe after dark. When in a restaurant, don't hang your bags or handbag across the back of a chair or set it down by the table. In the supermarket, don't leave your purse in the trolley while you shop, keep it on your person. In malls and department stores, keep your bags close to you. Don't set down your shopping bags and turn away to look at other items. Someone could just slither by and walk away with your bags.

Exercising common sense regarding your demeanor in public places will go far to ensure your personal safety. Targets of street theft are often those who wear are careless in matters of personal safety. Avoid attracting attention and be coming a target of street theft by wearing jewelry and watches in public, or displaying large amounts of cash when making purchases, especially in the more traditional shopping areas such as the trade centers (ITCs).

Instances of motorcycle crime are heard of now and then where the most common are instances of snatch-theft, where a man and his accomplice on a motorcycle snatches at a pedestrian's purse or loosely hanging bag or an unsuspecting pedestrian using his/her hand phone. To prevent opportunists from targeting you, it’s a good idea to clutch your bag closely to your chest. And of course, never use your hand phone when you are on the streets.

There are also instances where unattended bags have been snatched through the open windows of cars or bajaj’s at a traffic junction. When entering or exiting a vehicle in public areas, it's a wise precaution to glance around the car to ensure that no one is around as you descend from the vehicle, if you are taking a bajaj, make sure you clutch your bag close to yourself.

Many car owners in Jakarta also tint the glass of their cars to reflect heat but also to reduce the visibility of people looking into your car. At most major junctions, there are people selling items or begging alongside the cars and it can be irritating to have these hawkers constantly looking in your car or beggars constantly tapping on your windows asking for money.

The other types of petty crime are domestic scams, common reports are dubious officials may try to gain entrance to your home for “servicing” or “repairs” or for “maintenance inspection”. Naive household staff lets the person into do their inspection, which is actually a chance for thieves to checkout your residence. If the officials visit is legitimate, they will have a “surat tugas” or “Duty Letter” and KTP (identity card), a form of identification here. They will return. Never let someone else into your home or Kosan.

A common amongst thieves is to look for inebriated or intoxicated expatriates leaving a nightclub and follow them home where they would be robbed in their car/taxi or at their home.

Taxi is not exempt from crime, even though rare, they can happen. The most common are simple scams, if the taxi driver knows that you are not familiar with the area, they could drive in circles to rake up extra distance on the meter, or even not use the meter and demand an exorbitant fare at the end of the journey. Always ensure that you have a good grasp on the name of the place you want to go to or have an idea of surrounding landmarks and neighboring buildings.

The best precaution is to only take reputable taxis, such as Blue Bird, TaxiKU, Express or other recommended taxi firms. Write down the number of the taxi and the driver's ID number so that you can make a complaint about any suspicious behavior of the taxi driver. if you are alone in a taxi, always sit on the left hand side in the back so that you always have a clear view of the driver and ascertain his intentions, (if any). There has been reports of the driver pushing back his chair and trapping the passenger’s legs behind him and then they turning and robbing. Although I find this a little incredulous, there is still a possibility that you will find yourself stranded in unfamiliar territory and with a poor grasp of the local language, help would be hard to get.

In traffic accidents involving buses, when a bus driver runs into a pedestrian or kills someone in a collision, the bus driver immediately takes off. That is because a mob will gather and instant justice will be meted out, often resulting in severe injury to the bus driver. This is rarely heard of in accidents involving private cars. When you are riding in a car that is involved in an accident. In most cases, the driver of the car is held responsible in any accident involving a pedestrian, motorcycle or bicycle; no matter how undisciplined the other driver was behaving.

It is always best to allow your driver to negotiate with the other parties in the accident. Once an expatriate gets out of the car, the entire scenario changes. To Indonesians the fact that you stop and get out of the car to inquire into the injured parties well-being is an admission of guilt on your part in the accident.

It's best to write down and hand the other party the address of your office, and the name of an Indonesian there who can "negotiate" the claims of the other parties. Don't let the driver tell the other party where you live or where he lives or show any drivers license or car documents to them if you can avoid it. Let your office handle it.

Police presence in Jakarta is very minimal and there are generally 3 types of private security personnel that you will encounter in Jakarta. The Satpam, jaga or Hansip.

A Satpam is probably the most common security person you will see on the streets and at any major corporations or businesses. Satpams are full-fledged security guards and wear official-looking uniforms. Satpams are licensed by the local government and are always in white or dark Navy blue uniforms. The term Satpam means “Satuan Petugas Keamanan” or “Association of Security Officers”, and they are generally hired to provide security at malls and mall entrances, shopping centers, condominiums, and usually at all business and enterprise establishments.

Satpams are different from jagas and hansips is that they have had significant military-like training in guard duties and have been properly certified by organizations related to the Indonesian military forces. They are easily identifiable in uniform with their white or black harnesses and their walkie-talkies and long white or black night-sticks or baton weapons, many satpams are also usually armed with a GARNETT metal detector or a light-wand or even have visible knives in their harnesses and have commanding and authoritative mannerisms, but all of them are generally friendly and would gladly help you if you need help or directions.

The Jaga “watchman” is probably the next most common type of guard,. These men can be hired either as day jaga or night jaga and their basic duties are to watch a private residence, they also open the gates for your car when you leave and arrive. in addition to watching the house, Jaga’s can also be asked to do routine pool maintenance, mow the lawn, tend to the plants, water the yard, sweep the street areas in front of the house.

The next type of guard that you will encounter is the Hansip. Hansip/Linmas comes from the term “Pertahanan Sipil”, which means community security and a more recent term is “Linmas” which stands for “perlindungan masyarakat “or community protection. These men are hired by the housing areas where you live. They have very minimal training and their primary functions are to patrol the neighborhood regularly to check for problems and to screen people coming in through the main gates to the complex, especially in the late evening. In the case of a robbery or serious incident, the Hansip can contact the police for you.

In theory, a Satpam is best equipped to guard your family in a dangerous situation. In reality, you would probably never need those services. His role is primarily to ensure your safety, open the gate and screen visitors. You could probably not expect your Satpam to assist with the yard or pool work. Hiring a Satpam is primarily done by businesses, wealthy Indonesians and expatriates. Most neighborhoods and circumstances do not require Satpam to ensure the safety of the residents. Most middle class Indonesians do not even hire jaga.

Having said all that, the basic rule, of course, is to use common sense, there are several precautions that you can take to avoid being a victim of opportunistic crime. Never hang out late in the night, never wear fancy jewelry, never use your phone on the streets and if possible go out in small groups and avoid back lanes and any dark alleys. Be wary of strangers and to exercise caution and common sense in all situations.