When Facebook vigilantes got it all wrong!

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VIGILANTES! People taking the law into their own hands! —

#Facebook ‘snatch thieves’ turn out to be carpenters #nst170 http://www.nst.com.my/node/83592

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By ARNAZ M. KHAIRUL – 8 May 2015 @ 5:48 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Police were left scratching their heads following an arrest of two Indonesian carpenters this morning in response to social media alerts about snatch thieves on the prowl in the Pantai area that went viral since Wednesday.
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The postings which spread like wildfire on Facebook, warning residents of “snatch thieves” on roaming the area on a motorcycle and wielding what was alleged to be a hook had police on the look-out following various complaints from worried residents.
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At 11am today, Pantai police stopped Indonesians Hartono, 39, and Agus Sriono, 30, and based on the description and motorcycle number plate, they were arrested.
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Brickfields police chief assistant commissioner Muhammad Azlee Abdullah confirmed the arrests before clarifying the matter as unsubstantiated allegations made by social media users.
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Hartono and Agus were found to be legally employed carpenters working for contractor Tey Jean Woe, 44, who produced all documents related to the workers and the motorcycle which he owned.
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“They were in the area looking for the house of a customer in which they were supposed to do some work. What was alleged to be a hook was actually an electrical cable, which we have clarified with them,” said Muhammad Azlee.
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