An irate mob yesterday nearly beat to death three suspected criminals, who allegedly specialised in snatching bags from women in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to a newspaper vendor, Asuquo, who witnessed the whole scenario, the thieves snatched the bag containing an unspecified sum of money from the woman who came out of the premises of a First Bank along Calabar Road and sped off.
Luck was however not on their side, as an unidentified lady in a car tailed them in the company of other person company with others after she spotted what had happened. They intercepted the Volkswagen car at Goldie/Atu junction where an angry mob later took over.
Asuquo said, “They snatched a bag from the woman on Calabar Road and drove through Target down to Goldie here, where they were accosted by the mob. A lady who saw them when the thieves snatched the bag raised the alarm as she was driving and those people joined her in the chase.
“When the men got to Goldie by Atu roundabout, they attempted to make a U-turn, but about three cars blocked them from all sides.”
Asuquo explained further that when the suspected thieves saw that they had been trapped, they wound up the side glasses of the vehicle and remained inside.
“It was at that point that the lady in the first car came out of her car and raised the alarm, which attracted more people. Instantly, the thieves’ car glasses were broken and they were dragged out of the car. From nowhere, people brought out machetes.”
He said the suspected thieves were inflicted with cuts before the arrival of policemen from the Atakpa Police Division, who rescued and took the suspects to the station.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Hogan Bassey, said, “The boys are with us and are being given medical attention. They will appear in court after investigations are completed.”