Three men who tried to rob a Bloemfontein woman with a toy gun were arrested after being chased by members of the public, police said on Friday.

Superintendent Annelie Wrench said Elizabeth Bulmer of Heuwelsig arrived at home on Friday morning when three men in a Mazda 626 sedan approached her.

One man got out and asked her for a job. Two other men followed him and pointed a toy gun at her.

"They demanded money and pushed her and she fell to the ground," said Wrench.

Her screams were heard by a team of builders at her house who started to throw stones at the men.

The men fled in their vehicle but were followed by the owner of a garden service who was working nearby and also heard the commotion.

The fleeing robbers lost control of their vehicle and hit a tree. They tried to flee on foot but two workers from an agricultural insurance company, who were nearby, raced after them.

All three men were caught and handed to police emergency services who, in the meanwhile, had arrived on the scene.

The men, aged 25, 30 and 31, would appear in Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court on Monday on charges of attempted robbery.