It is known that thieves who are caught in the act are shortly after freed by prosecutors or justice. This has led to frustration and now citizens are taking violent action against assailants, if you go by three cases reported in today's Listin Diario. One tells the story of a man who had stolen a mobile phone and RD$2,000 from a young woman on Wednesday on Prolongacion 27 de Febrero in Las Caobas around 10pm, and was lynched by residents of Las Caobas. He had no ID on him, but was about 20 years old, said Police spokesman General Simon Antonio Diaz. Another case was reported in Santiago, of an 18 year old caught stealing from a Los Ciruelitos neighborhood home. The man entered the home and attacked a young girl who called for help and the neighbors went after the thief, catching him and beating him almost to death. The Police arrived in time to save him from death. He was taken to hospital and then to prosecutors for preparing a case against him. The Police reports a third case in Cienfuegos, Santiago, where a man was caught stealing electricity wires and was spared from a probable death when he ran into a Police patrol, confessed his crime and asked for protection.

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