Lombok Timur Teenager Snatches Phone to Buy Eid Clothes for Girlfriend

A 16-year-old boy identified by the initials ME snatched a mobile phone to buy Eid clothes for his girlfriend. The incident occurred in Montong Beter Village, Sakra Barat District, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on the night of Tuesday, 3 March 2026. The head of Sakra Barat Police Sector (Kapolsek), Iptu Muhammad Anhar, said the teenage suspect from Sukarara Village forcibly grabbed the victim’s phone as they sat by the roadside. ME reportedly approached and wrested the phone from the victim, who was using it at the time. The owner cried for help to nearby residents. Thereafter, the suspect attempted to flee on a motorcycle. One suspect was secured by residents, while the other escaped on a motorbike, Anhar said. The situation briefly heated up as bystanders who captured ME attempted to mete out mob justice; police arrived and prevented the vigilante action. Hasil interogasi sementara, terduga pelaku nekat mencopet HP milik korban lantaran akan menggunakan uang hasil penjualannya untuk membelikan baju lebaran pacarnya. ME kini telah ditahan di Polsek Sakra Barat. Ia dijerat dengan pasal tindak pidana pencurian. Sementara itu, polisi masih memburu pelaku kedua yang saat ini masuk dalam daftar pencarian orang (DPO). ‘One suspect has been secured, while the fugitive’s identity has been established and he is being pursued,’ Anhar said.