An alleged thief was chased into the unforgiving waves of Echo Beach on Monday by an angry mob.
A video posted to YouTube by local newspaper Tribun Bali shows the hectic scene on Monday.
Identified in local reports as Roni, 26, from Banyuwangi, the man allegedly stole a brown bag belonging to I Nyoman Sudira, 64, that contained Rp 1 million of cash and six silver rings worth millions of rupiah.
The theft reportedly happened at Warung Mandira Surf stay, Jl. Linjong.
One witness says Roni, was spotted around Echo Beach and people started shouting out that he was a thief.
“It was about 2:30 pm, the perpetrator went into the middle of the sea when in pursuit by the witness. The witness chased him into the sea,” Tribun Bali quoted a bystander as saying.
Not knowing the struggling guy in the water was a suspected thief, foreign surfers apparently tried to help Roni at first.
“The foreigners initially wanted to help because they didn’t know the perp was a criminal. However, when they were told he was a criminal, they brought the perp to the beach,” the bystander added.
Eventually North Kuta Police made their way to the beach to bring in Roni.
Evidence was later confiscated from Roni in the form of one Vario Techno STNK, the victim’s identity card, two ATM cards, some cash equaling about Rp 1 million, and the six silver rings.
North Kuta Police Chief Heri Surpiawan confirmed to local media that the perp has been detained and he suspects that this isn’t Roni’s first time committing theft in the area.
Reader Interactions