A cell phone thief was taken to hospital after he was found severely beaten up by community members on Friday, June 24.
The man, in his late twenties, had allegedly robbed a man of his cell phone and cash.
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According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, spokesperson for Kempton SAPS, the 25-year-old victim was walking down Pretoria Road around 8.30pm when the incident occurred.
The suspect allegedly appeared from nowhere and stole the victim’s money and phone. When the suspect attempted to run away, a few community members who witnessed the incident chased after him.
After he was caught, Mtshali said, the community severely assaulted the suspect before the police were called to the scene.
He was then escorted to hospital by police for treatment, after which he was arrested.
The suspect appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court where he faced a charge of common robbery.
The police praised the community for their sharp reaction, however, condemned the act of taking the law into their own hands.
