ECUADOR When a man was caught stealing, the locals chose not to call the police and instead took matters into their own hands. They stripped the thief naked to humiliate him and beat him severely.
Although this kind of mob justice can feel effective in the moment, it is actually a violation of the person’s human rights and can constitute assault and unlawful detention. Taking the law into your own hands puts you at risk of legal consequences and can escalate violence. The safest and most responsible approach is to detain the thief safely and wait for the police to arrive.
