The public caught a group of suspects red-handed attempting to steal cables and batteries at a local school and took matters into their own hands.

Community member Dean Payne explains, “The suspects were attempting to steal cables and batteries from the Cell C tower on Hartzstraat Primary School’s premises after 9pm on Wednesday (1 October) when angry community members caught them in the act.

“One suspect was arrested, while three others escaped and are believed to be injured. Out of anger, community members also threw stones at the suspects’ vehicle.”

Payne says the suspects pretended to be contractors but when asked for identification, “They became aggressive and started running”.

He adds that the suspects used vehicle jacks to break the palisade fencing and had fake municipality documents.

The suspects are all from Eldorado Park.

Randfontein Police spokesperson Captain Appel Ernst could not immediately be reached for comment.