Tinotenda Hove – A Zimbabwean national suspected of a series of bag and cellphone thefts was apprehended by alert community members in Vuwani, a town located just outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo province.

According to local sources, the suspect had allegedly been involved in several theft incidents that have left residents on edge over the past few weeks. Victims reported losing valuable items, including phones and handbags, in what they described as a string of brazen daytime snatches.

Community members say they had grown increasingly frustrated with the rising crime, which they claim had gone largely unaddressed by local authorities. On the day of the suspect’s arrest, a group of residents recognized him from previous incidents and decided to take action.

“We’ve been living in fear, and people are tired,” said one Vuwani resident who witnessed the arrest. “This guy has been terrorizing the area, and we finally caught him.”

The suspect was briefly questioned by community members before being handed over to local police. No injuries were reported during the citizen’s arrest, and the situation remained under control.

While police have yet to release an official statement, authorities are believed to be investigating the suspect’s connection to other unsolved theft cases in the area.

Community leaders have urged residents to remain vigilant but to avoid taking the law into their own hands. “We understand the frustration, but we also urge everyone to work within the law and allow the police to do their job,” said a local ward councillor.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns over petty crime in rural and peri-urban areas of Limpopo, where communities often feel unprotected and resort to self-policing measures.