They executed their mission with precision and were moving away calmly from the scene with their loot.

They thought they had won the game, but how wrong they were as they did not get far. As they carried their loot, an observant shopkeeper became suspicious and called for help. That was when all hell broke loose while the suspected thugs made a dash to freedom with their loot.

A group of shoppers ran after the suspected robbers to another busy street at Thohoyandou. They were shouting “vimba, vimba!” loosely translated as “stop them in their tracks”.

Just when they were sure they had managed to outrun their pursuers, they ran into a real trap and could not continue with their flight. They had run straight into the barrel of a gun.

Security guards who were collecting money at a local bank saw a crowd running towards them and, sensing that it might be a plan to rob them, cocked their guns and pointed them at the suspected thugs, who then froze.

They were then under citizen’s arrest and the police were called.

The incensed pursuers did not want to let go of the men, even though all the groceries were recovered. Chaos erupted when the pursuers meted out mob justice to the suspects. Some of the suspects sweet-talked their captors, who let them free, but not before hands were laid on them.

One of the suspects was not so lucky, as a member of the public would not let him go before the police could arrive. One brazen friend of the captured man started shouting at the man who was holding his friend and even threatened him with violence if he did not free his friend. “Why are you still holding him? This man stole from Indians and there is no reason you should report him to police. You must know that this is Thohoyandou and you will pay dearly for what you are doing,” threatened the friend.

A member of the public was still holding the suspect when the suspects regrouped and came back. This time around, they were armed with bricks and they came straight to the man who was holding their friend. Without any form of resistance, the captor developed cold feet and let go of the suspect, who went away with his friends, but not without threats to the man who had captured their friend.

The man said he was not afraid of them and told them to dare come near him if they wanted trouble. All this happened in full view of the public, who did nothing to try and stop the suspects on their rescue mission.

Police arrived, but the suspects were gone by then. One bystander was overheard saying that at Thohoyandou, one could be killed while people watched without helping.

Just a month ago, a young man lost his life in the town’s CBD when unknown assailants attacked him with a brick in full view of the public. No one has yet come with evidence, even though there were lots of people around when it happened.

In the latest incident, the shopkeeper did not lay charges as all the groceries were recovered.

Limpopo police spokesperson in Vhembe Capt Mashudu Malelo confirmed having received the complaint.

“We immediately rushed to the scene, but the owner of the stolen groceries was unwilling to open a case and said he was happy that all his goods were recovered. We could not just open a case which could not stand in court without evidence from the complainant,” he said.