BANDARLAMPUNG, INDONESIA - Members of the public, upset over rampant crime ahead of Idul Fitri in a number of areas in Lampung took the law into their own hands on Wednesday beating to death a man who attempted to steal a motorcycle and setting alight two other motorcycles in Payung Mulya, Padangratu district, Central Lampung regency.

When they heard local resident Sahid, 35, crying for help after four men attempted to steal his motorcycle, local residents came armed with machetes, swords and sticks. Sahid had been followed by the four men earlier in the night. One of them hit Sahid on the thigh and he fell off his bike. Sahid then fled and cried for help.

An angry mob soon formed. Upon seeing the crowd, the men fled on their bikes, but the mob, numbering in the hundreds, were able to catch one of them, identified as Ru, from Negeri Katon, Central Lampung.

They beat Ru to death and then set fire to the two motorcycles left behind by the robbers. Police arrived an hour later.

--The Jakarta Post/ANN