A suspected thief on Friday evening escaped death after he was caught red-handed stealing at Gatumaini primary school.
He was trying to steal electronics and stationery from the Deputy Head teacher’s office in Thika.
Witnesses said the thief fled from the scene after angry residents, teachers and members of the public threatened to lynch him to death.
“A teacher who caught the thief stealing raised alarm and attracted pupils, teachers and other members of the public who arrived and descended on the thief with kicks and blows but luckily he escaped from claws of death,” said Bernard Mugo a teacher.
He said the suspect was chased by teachers, pupils and members of the public and was caught up outside Chania Boys High School gate.
"The suspect didn’t go far before he was apprehended by angry locals. Police from Thika police station who were alerted rescued the suspect from the locals who were baying for his blood,” noted Mugo.
Patrick Kariuki, a police officer urged members of the public to surrender criminals to police saying that citizen arrest is legal.
“We were alerted by one of the locals over the plan to lynch the suspect and acted swiftly to rescue the suspect. Otherwise he could be dead by now. Some electric sockets and a rim of photocopying papers were recovered which we will use as exhibits to charge the suspect in court on Monday,” said the officer.
The officer warned local youths against theft saying the law will not spare them.
"Youths should engage in legal activities to earn a living because stealing can earn you death or a lengthy jail sentence," he added.