Handbag thief sent to early grave

A MAN from Matsheumhlope, Bulawayo, reportedly joined his ancestors after he was beaten to death for allegedly stealing a handbag.

The burglar allegedly broke into a house in Matsheumhlope and stole a handbag that contained $60 and a passport that belonged to Rhoda Minnie Jacobs (25) who was asleep in the next room.

She screamed for help after being awakened by the noise the thief mad during the act.

Neighbours, who were allegedly seated in the verandah imbibing, came to her rescue and ran after the alleged thief only to catch him a few houses away.

After recovering the stolen bag, four neighbours allegedly assaulted the burglar with a wooden log until he became unconscious.

Thandiwe Nkomo (59) who resides where the burglar was caught revealed that she witnessed the incident which occurred around 3am.

"I was awakened by noise and I saw my four neighbours beating the burglar in my yard. When the burglar tried to run away with the bag, they ran after him," said Moyo.

It is reported that at around 6am, the four men advised a police officer of the incident and officers from ZRP Hillside attended to the scene and found the alleged burglar in a pool of blood.

Police sources revealed that the man had a deep cut on the head and bruises on his buttocks that allegedly led to his death upon admission at United Bulawayo Hospitals.