Mob lynches suspected burglar in Kisumu's Polyview Estate

A crowd gathers at the scene where a suspected burglar was lynched by a mob on August 7, 2018 at Polyview Estate in Kisumu. PHOTO | ELIZABETH OJINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Witnesses said the man broke into one of the houses in the estate and stole a laptop and two mobile phones.

  • The residents suspect the man was part of a gang that has been terrorising them.

A suspected thief has been lynched by a mob at Polyview Estate in Kisumu County.

Witnesses said the man broke into one of the houses in the estate and stole a laptop and two mobile phones.

Mr Benard Kakai told the Nation that the suspect stole the items at 3.30am on Tuesday then jumped over the balcony.

“I was watching [a] movie. I heard my sister screaming that somebody had broken in. We caught up with him and recovered the items,” said Mr Kakai.

Neighbours who heard the commotion responded immediately and smoked the thief out of his hide out.

They then beat up him and set him on fire. 

The residents suspect the man was part of a gang that has been terrorising them.

They are now calling on the police to intensify night patrols in the area to curb rising crime.

Kisumu County Commander Job Boronjo warned residents against taking the law into their hands.

“Let the police do their work. Should a suspect be caught by members of the public, they should hand him over to the police rather than kill him,” said Mr Boronjo.

The body of the suspected burglar has been taken to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.