Man arrested for allegedly stealing

By ROSELYN ELLISON
POLICE in Rabaul, East New Britain, have arrested and charged a young man for allegedly stealing.
Acting police station commander for Rabaul Insp Mathew Tende told The National the alleged stealing incident occurred on last Friday afternoon between 4pm and 5pm at the Rabaul market bus stop area.
Tende said the suspect, who is a youth from Rabaul urban, was roaming around at the bus stop area at that time and he allegedly snatched a mobile phone from a male passenger who was already in a bus travelling home at Nonga after work.
Tende said that the victim, who is an employee of Rabaul Coastal Shipping Company, managed to get off the bus, held the suspect and beat him up.
Tende said when youths from Rabaul urban saw what was happening, they help the suspect and attacked the victim.
He said during the commotion, youths from Malaguna intervened and started to attack the Rabaul urban youths who attacked the owner of the phone.
“The situation got out of hand, however police responded quickly and were on time to assess the situation and disperse the crowd.
“Suspects from both sides have been identified by police and we have advised the community leaders for both sides to bring those suspects involved in the fight to us, we asked the leaders to bring in the suspects on Tuesday, but they did not bring them in, so we will again send word to those respective leaders to bring in the suspects before Friday ,” Tende said.
Tende said due to the fight, the Rabaul market and some shops were closed the next day.