Thugs target fishermen

SUMENEP, East Java: Armed robbers are roaming the town's streets, mainly targeting fishermen who have just obtained money from transactions.

The rise in robberies has occurred in the fishing district of Sepekan, causing losses worth millions of rupiah lately, Antara reported.

Residents said most robberies occurred at about 4 p.m. when fishermen were on their way back from the market.

"We were stopped at gun point and they (robbers) forced us to surrender our money," said Abu Nahem, a fisherman who was robbed or Rp 3 million (about US$1,400).

Chief of Sumenep police precinct Lt. Col. Moh. Anwari has promised to stop the robbers. "We will find out the type of guns that the robbers use to identify who they might be," he said. (pan)