Alleged teen robber beaten by mob

The teenager, along with two other suspects, had allegedly robbed the driver of a cigarette delivery vehicle of R500 at about 8am on Thursday, Kempton Express reported. 

According to Norkem Park police spokesperson, Captain Lesibana Molokomme, the driver of the cigarette vehicle was being followed by a light blue Toyota Tazz with three men inside. “He stopped at a local spaza shop and when coming back to the car, two of the men pointed firearms at him. They demanded money and the cigarettes that were in the car,” Molokomme said.

The driver then shouted and pressed his hooter for help, alerting residents, who came out to see what was happening. The suspects then fled as the residents approached. Two of the suspects jumped into the Tazz and sped off, leaving behind the teen who was then caught and allegedly beaten by community members.

“When police arrived at the scene, the suspect was handed to the police with serious injuries and paramedics were called in to treat him.”

He was then taken to hospital where he is currently under police guard.

The 19-year-old will face charges of armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm. The other two suspects are still at large.

In December last year, Pretoria police came to the rescue of an alleged robber when community members took turns beating the man.

The man had allegedly robbed a 75-year-old woman of her pension money in Atteridgeville, when residents were woken up by her screams.

“We found [the suspect] inside the woman’s house with stolen items and money. Some residents started beating him because they have grown tired of the boy and his regular criminal behaviour,” an eyewitness said.

– Caxton News Service