A cellphone robber is recovering in hospital under police guard after being beaten up by community members.
The suspect was severely assaulted by residents after he allegedly stole a Nokia cellphone from a 20-year-old female victim on Monday afternoon at about 3.40pm.
According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, spokesperson for Kempton SAPS, the incident happened near the railway lines in Kempton.
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“Members of the community who witnessed the incident gave chase after the suspect and after catching him, allegedly assaulted him severely. He was later taken to hospital under police guard,” Mtshali said.
The station commander of the Kempton Police, Brig Bertha Kgoroba, commended the community for assisting in the arrest of the suspect; however, she condemned the act of the community taking the law into their own hands.
The suspect will appear in court on common robbery charges as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.
