Mob assault alleged robber

2003-06-22 18:17

Johannesburg - A 25-year-old man, alleged to have robbed a spaza shop in the Johannesburg CBD on Sunday, was severely assaulted by a group of bystanders at a taxi rank, police said.

Inspector Amanda Roestoff said the man allegedly entered the shop along with another four or five accomplices.

Although details were sketchy, Roestoff said it was believed the robbers, who stole a total of R8 000 from the shop, fled the scene on foot and dispersed in different directions.

One of them - the 25-year-old - was, however, pursued by a man believed to be the shop owner.

Roestoff said that on realising he was being followed, the 25-year-old fired a shot at his pursuer and also attempted to hijack his bakkie.

The shop owner swerved to avoid being hit but a witness, meanwhile, heard the commotion and went to the scene to investigate.

Shoot-out

When he saw a man running away from a stalled bakkie, he gave chase and a shoot-out ensued.

The alleged robber fired three shots at the witness, who returned fire and continued in his pursuit, eventually catching up with the robber while he was trying to board a taxi.

The robber was allegedly unable to open the taxi door and the witness managed to catch up and apprehend him.

Employees at the Star newspaper were talking to Roestoff on the phone while this was happening. Roestoff said she managed to dispatched police to the scene very quickly as a result.

Unfortunately police did not arrive in time to prevent the mob, which included the taxi occupants as well as bystanders, from severely assaulting the alleged robber.

Roestoff said of the assault: "The South African Police Services distance themselves from any form of vigilantism... A person and or persons who assault a suspected criminal face criminal charges if enough evidence can be found to link them to such a case."

She said citizens were entitled to carry out citizens' arrests, but that arrested people had to be handed over to police "immediately and unharmed".

- SAPA