Thief 'happy to be arrested'
Johannesburg - An alleged house thief was grateful to have been arrested, said Ivory Park police on Thursday.
As a result of the man's arrest, he was saved from the wrath of angry residents.
Police spokesperson Lesiba Manamela said: "He told police he was happy to be arrested by them because community members were going to kill him."
The 23-year-old man was seen on Wednesday afternoon by one of the occupants of a house he had allegedly robbed.
"When the woman returned home she saw a man walking out of her yard. She asked what he carrying, but the man said he was selling clothes. She then questioned him about her cap he was wearing and he ran."
Manamela said the woman then called community members who chased the robber.
'Had second bag of loot'
Police were alerted, joined in the chase and cornered the man.
He was found in possession of a DVD player as well as clothes which were positively identified by the woman.
He had a second bag full of items and told police he got them from another house he had broken into earlier the same day.
He even pointed out the house to the police, said Manamela.
The man was expected to appear in Tembisa Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of housebreaking, theft and possession of stolen property.
