Minivan passengers beat pickpocket

JAKARTA: Pickpockets employ numerous tricks to distract their victims, including feigning illness on public transportation vehicles.

But when Kiki Adriansyah and an accomplice allegedly attempted this trick on a public minivan plying the Bekasi-Kaliabang route on Monday, all they received for their trouble was a beating.

While his accomplice pretended to be sick, Kiki stole the cellular phone of a passenger. But another passenger saw the whole thing and alerted everyone on the minivan with cries of "thief", Antara reported.

Kiki, 34, was beaten black and blue by the passengers, but his accomplice managed to escape largely untouched.--JP