Linden Neighbourhood Watch (LNW) confirmed the arrest of a suspected car thief after he was apprehended and assaulted by community members on 23 July.
LNW chairperson, Fareed Hoosen, stated that suspects were attempting to steal a Honda vehicle on Third Avenue, when employees of a nearby business noticed one of the suspects getting into the car.
“The employees gave chase as the man got out and started running,” began Hoosen. “A second suspect, driving a silver Toyota Auris, then tried to pick up the first suspect, but he was unable to get into the car,”
The business employees and community members continued to chase after the suspect on foot and caught him on the corner of Sixth Street and Third Avenue – just before LNW arrived to detain the suspect. Hoosen described the situation as tense.
“Members of the public tried to assault him badly.”
The suspect was then taken to Linden Police Station where he was placed under arrest.
“It’s understandable that the public is really tired of crime and also that these criminals should bear the brunt of their actions when they are caught,” concluded Hoosen. “But the public must remember that they can’t just assault a man on the street. As unfortunate as it is, criminals have rights too.”
He encourages people who find themselves in similar situations, to wait for the necessary security people or police to arrive on scene, then they can arrest and detain such suspects in the appropriate fashion.
