Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stopped the confrontation between residents of Dhiffushi island and thieves who had stolen a safe from a local shop.

After residents found a part of the stolen safe after having confronted those who they suspected to be involved in the theft, they had evidently assaulted the thieves.

A local told RaajjeMV that its most successful shop “Lovely Store” was broken into a few nights before and that they had made the suspected thief locate where he had hidden the safe.

The local said the safe was found empty inside a docked boat and that it was likely the money is hidden inside the house of another suspect. He added that a group of five have been behind the cases of theft in Dhiffushi.

Police have thus far arrested three connected to the theft and Thulusdhoo Magistrate Court has since remanded one of them by three days.

While it has not yet been made clear whether further arrests have been made, RaajjeMV understands that a team of officers have since arrived in the island to take on the case.

The local told RaajjeMV that the island residents want the authorities to find everyone involved in the case, along with stolen funds.

According to island residents, theft cases have been on the rise.

“Lovely Store” had been broken into a few times in the past by individuals suspected in drug cases.