TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia or the complete dictionary of the Indonesian language defines the word begal as someone committing highway robbery. The key word is crime committed on the roads outside of cities or big towns, far from the attention of law enforcers. In other words, such crimes are committed in 'godless areas' where the state and law enforcers cannot be found. Lately, however, begal seems to be encroaching on urban centers.

In the month of January alone, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police have recorded 260 motorcycle thefts around the capital city and neighboring areas. It seems that motorcycles with one or two cases involving cabs and privately-owned cars seem to be the main target of these gangs. The reason is simple. Motorcycles are easy to resell, individually or in lots.

The number of motorcycle thefts seem to confirm the results of the Economist Intelligence Unit's survey published last month that Jakarta is one of the most unsafe places in the world. Police have responded by carrying out operations, but they tend be temporary. So far, 29 such criminals have been nabbed, seven among them shot to death in the process. In Lampung, police caught 558 thugs and confiscated 85 weapons.

Meanwhile, in their fear and frustration, the public has not remained quiet. A movement, now comprising 5,000 members and growing, has been formed online, providing convoys to escort motorcyclist commuters travelling from their places of work to their homes. The worst attacks have occurred in places where law enforcers are infrequently seen. In such cases, people tend to take the law into their own hands. Recently, in South Tangerang, a mob burnt to death one of the thugs they caught. The local district officer complained that in their frustration, the masses tended to practice street justice and play the role of judge, jury and executioner.

The Jakarta Police claim to have identified 54 hubs where these thugs congregate, 25 of them in Jakarta, the others spread out between the suburban towns of Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

This is a very dangerous phenomenon. The police cannot regard this situation as normal. The statement of police spokesman Ronny F. Sompie that the current wave of violent crime was nothing out of the ordinary, failed to quell the fear of many citizens.

Even President Joko Widodo cannot remain unmoved in the face of this crime wave. Jakarta is the nation's capital. The president should take a firm stand and take over leadership of the Police Force, which appears disempowered, except when it battles against anti-corruption exponents.

The role of the military (TNI) in restoring a sense of security from the prevalent thuggery is not unwelcome, provided they know the limits and comply with 'civilian rules'. It's now up to the president, who is the supreme commander of the police and the military. It is still not too late for Jokowi to act against this insidious national threat. (*)