Jakarta -- National

Local police are placing snipers in crime-prone points along a stretch of the Java Northern Coastal highway between Situbondo and Banyuwangi in East Java during the Idul Fitri homecoming rush and post-holidays influx.

“As many as 30 snipers will be placed in the highway to reduce crime rate during the holidays,” Adj. Sr. Comr. Yoyo Sapto Nugroho, head of operations at Besuku Police, told Antara news agency on Friday.

Yoyo said that out of many crime that were bound to increase during the holidays, violent robbery, extortion and highway robbery, locally known as bajing loncat, were likely to be the most rampant in the areas.

“The perpetrators usually target quiet places along the route,” he said.

Police in West Java and Central Java have also stepped up security measures during the Idul Fitri holidays and calling on homebound travelers to be alert during their journeys.