They garlanded the youth Seenivasan, gave him fruits and took him in a procession giving mock respect to him and then handed him over to police.
Police intially refused to arrest him as he was injured as the People had slapped and beat him and suggested to the people to admit him in government hospital at Hosur.
However, doctors there said they could not admit him without police request.
Police said today the youth was already involved in mobile phone theft case in the same area six months ago. Seenivasan, who was in Salem Central Jail was released only two days back and had come to the same area where he was stealing.
Police said they had only suggested to the residents to admit him in a hospital, but denied they refused to arrest him.