South Jakarta, where the city's middle class resides, has become a new target of crime, according to the police departments annual records.

Known for its trendy boulevards replete with plush residences, spacious gardens and stately trees, nearly one-fifth of all reported crimes in the city last year occurred in South Jakarta.

A total of 10,353 crimes were reported to the police in the municipality, out of the citywide total of 54,391.

But Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani was quick to insinuate the root of the crime as being 'outside' of his jurisdiction.

"Most of these crimes happen in Ciputat and Pamulang which borders Tangerang regency ... Not at posh housing estates, like Pondok Indah or Kebayoran Baru," Firman added.

He failed to explain why some armed robberies, in which victims were killed, had chosen locations right in the municipality, including the latest bloody, but abortive robbery attempt in broad daylight on Dec. 22 at Mandiri Bank branch on Jl. Tebet Timur Dalam.

The robbers escaped the scene empty-handed, but gunned down a security guard.

Less than a week later, a driver working for PT Cresiyn Indonesia, located on Jl. Mampang Prapatan cooperated with robbers to steal his own company's cash -- Rp 25 million and US$70,000.

Police are still have very few leads in those two cases and not a single person has been arrested.

Firman said that police would establish more police posts in order to better monitor security.