Street crimes rising in Batam

BATAM: Street crimes against foreign travelers were on the rise here and impatient locals were sometimes taking the law into their own hands, a report said on Sunday.

Antara reported that an angry mob lynched a 23-year-old man and severely injured another on Saturday evening as the two allegedly snatched a purse from a Singaporean woman at the Angkasa public market in the Nagoya area.

Local police said that earlier this month at least three Germans were also robbed. Police said they lost their jewels and some Rp 15 million.

Another Singaporean was also robbed earlier this month in the Nagoya area, a local police was quoted as saying. (byg)