A suspected robber on Wednesday escaped death narrowly after police rescued him from an irate mob that wanted to lynch him in Kikuyu town.
The man in his 20s is alleged to have been part of a three man gang that had broken into three houses at a flat in Kidfamarco Estate and stolen household items.
Kikuyu Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Mr Mutune Maweu said a tenant in the flat noticed one of the gangsters struggling to open her house using a master key. She raised alarm attracting members of the public who gave chase and cornered one of them.
The mob beat him up and as they were about to set him ablaze, police officers on routine patrol arrived. They rescued him before taking him to the Kikuyu Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
The police boss said they are tracking his two accomplices and asked members of the public who have information about them to volunteer it to the police.
He warned residents against taking the law into their hands saying suspects should always be handed to the police for investigations and prosecution.