Now that’s a head lock! Brazilian vigilantes catch 'thief' and shackle his neck to a lamppost (after stripping him naked)

• Teenage boy was ambushed by three vigilantes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Stripped naked and stabbed in ear, before being shackled to lamppost
  
• Firefighters were forced to use cutting equipment to rescue youngster
  
• He had allegedly tried to mug a pedestrian in the street before attack
• Police have now identified the teenager and launched an investigation
  

By Sophie Jane Evans

Published: 05:35 EST, 4 February 2014 | Updated: 12:43 EST, 4 February 2014

A teenage boy has been stripped naked and chained to a lamppost after allegedly trying to mug a pedestrian in Brazil.

The youngster, believed to be aged between 16 and 18, was ambushed by vigilantes in Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

He was stripped of his clothing, before being shackled by his neck to the lamppost with a bicycle lock.

On display: This teenage boy was stripped naked and chained to a lamppost after allegedly trying to mug a pedestrian in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was forced to use a crumpled sheet of newspaper to protect his dignity

The boy, who was also stabbed in the ear, is believed to have tried to mug a pedestrian in the street in the minutes leading up to the attack.

However, he was allegedly spotted by three men, who decided to make him pay by stealing his clothes and tying him up.

He was eventually saved after passerby Yvonne Bezerra de Melo, a local teacher and founder of the educational project, UerÍ, called the emergency services.

She told Rio-based newspaper O Globo: 'He was beaten, stabbed in the ear, stripped naked and tied by his neck - and no-one in the street did anything to help.

Rescue: The youngster, believed to be aged between 16 and 18, was ambushed by vigilantes in the Flamengo neighbourhood. Above, firefighters use cutting equipment to rescue the boy, who was later taken to hospital

Tied up: The teenager was stripped of his clothes and shackled by his neck to the lamppost with a bicycle lock

'I asked him who had done that and he said it was the "motorcycle vigilantes".'

Firefighters arrived at the scene and were forced to use cutting equipment to rescue the boy, who was later taken to hospital by ambulance.

Following the incident, Ms de Melo, 66, shared a photo of the teenager on her Facebook page - describing him as 'young', 'bruised' and 'naked'.

More than 150 people have since commented on the photo - many of whom claim they have 'no pity' for the boy.

Leonardo Costa posted: 'I have suffered at the hands of thieves and I couldn't care less if they are tortured or killed.

Discovery: He was eventually saved after passerby Yvonne Bezerra de Melo, local teacher and founder of the educational project, UerÍ, called the emergency services. Above, an unnamed woman squats next to the boy

Meanwhile, Danillo Fernandes said: 'Wake up, you idiots. Anyone who walks around in Flamengo knows this is a THIEF who mugs old ladies and women every day on Avenue Oswaldo Cruz and adjacent streets.

'He has a gang, generally with four other thugs and two women. He deserved more.'

However, Ms de Melo condemned the vigilantes' actions - saying: 'If we let a gang of pitbulls kill and tie teenagers to lamp posts, this thing will get ugly.'

A spokesman for the firefighters of the Catete Quarter said: 'A man was tied to a lamp post on Avenue Oswaldo Cruz, corner with Avenue Rui Barbosa, in Flamengo.

'The victim was aided by the military police and taken to the Municipal Souza Aguiar Hospital.'

It comes as Brazilian network Rede Record reported that crime in Flamengo has risen by 200 per cent since 2012.

Seven 'delinquents' were arrested in the neighbourhood on Sunday as part of a crackdown, according to the command of the second BPM, or Botafogo quarter of military police.

Police have now identified the teenager and launched an investigation.