A 72-YEAR-OLD Burgersfort bottle store owner and two of his employees in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo have been arrested for allegedly beating to death a man they suspected of stealing liquor.

The men had allegedly launched a manhunt after they noticed they had had a burglary at the store and found the manat Mampuru village. They assaulted the man with an assortment of weapons and then left him to die.

Police identified the deceased as 29-year-old Prince Morowane.

The three were arrested on Sunday night at the village.

Limpopo police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mohale Ramatseba said yesterday: "In retaliation, villagers went on a rampage and burned down the man's bottle store on Monday, saying he had no right to kill the suspect for a beer.

"Police were called to the scene, but on arrival the fire had already gutted the liquor store. Damage caused by the fire is estimated at more than R500,000."

Ramatseba said nine suspects aged between 18 and 25 years were arrested for public violence and arson. He urged community members to report criminal activities to the police instead of taking the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, police in Tzaneen have arrested two suspects for allegedly stealing 200 cellphones at Jet Store. On Mondaymorning, police were on patrol when they stopped two men walking in the street. After searching them, they found the stolen cellphones.