Locals caught a man red-handed while he was stealing the compressor of an air-conditioner (AC), thrashed him and tied him to a pole. He was handed over to the police.
The people also recovered instruments used in the theft from the accused. According to the locals, the accused claimed he was a scrap dealer.
Residents said thefts had been on the rise in the neighborhood and AC compressors, motor wires and other items were being stolen.
Residents claimed an AC was stolen from the area just two days ago.
