A suspected cell phone thief was beaten by a crowd and his motorcycle set on fire after an attempted robbery in central Quito on Monday afternoon.
The incident occurred on Mariana de Jesús Avenue, where two men on a motorcycle targeted a driver whose vehicle window was open. During the attempt, the suspects tried to snatch a cell phone before fleeing the scene.
Their escape was cut short when nearby residents intervened and intercepted them. Both suspects fell from the motorcycle, and one was immediately detained by members of the public.
The situation quickly escalated:
- One suspect was beaten by the crowd
- He was stripped of his shirt and shoes
- His clothing and the motorcycle were set on fire
The second suspect initially fled toward a nearby shopping center but was later captured.
The man who was attacked by the crowd was reported to have prior criminal convictions and admitted to stealing high-end cell phones from distracted victims.
The incident highlights rising tensions around street crime, where residents sometimes take action themselves when suspects are caught in the act.
Both individuals were taken into custody as the case moves forward.