Port Elizabeth – Community members in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape apprehended a suspect for his alleged involvement in a business robbery, but were taken to task by police for taking the law into their own hands.
Police spokesperson, Captain Gerda Swart, said it was alleged that early on Monday morning four suspects, one armed with a firearm and the other three with knives, entered a business pretending to be customers.
Swart said that one of the suspects suddenly pulled out a firearm and demanded money and airtime from the business owner.
The three other suspects allegedly threatened the owner and his assistant with knives, Swart added.
The suspects took an undisclosed sum of money and fled on foot from the scene in the Moeggesukkel informal settlement.
Meanwhile, following the incident, the shop owner alerted community members about the robbery and a chase for the suspects ensued.
"During the chase, one of the suspects allegedly fell to the ground and threatened community members with a knife.The community members allegedly overpowered the suspect and assaulted him with their fists. Police members arrived on the scene and he was taken for medical care to a local hospital.
"The South African Police Service strongly condemns this type of behaviour and issues a stern warning to members of the community not to take the law into their own hands," said Swart.
The 35-year-old suspect will appear in the Uitenhage Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on a charge of business robbery. Police are still searching for the three remaining suspects.