Three Duncan Village men were on Thursday arrested for allegedly beating to death two men they accused of stealing their cellphone, and injuring another, Eastern Cape police said.

"They allegedly picked them up from their homes in the area and took them to theirs where they assaulted them with blunt objects," Captain Stephen Maree said.

He said two of the men died in the house while the third one was taken to the Frere hospital in East London for treatment.

"A police officer was called to the house around 9am and upon his arrival, one of the victims was already dead. The second one died while the officer was waiting for an ambulance he had called," Maree said.

The three men, aged 24, 25 and 28 were arrested in the house and were expected to appear in the East London Magistrate's Court on Monday.

A fourth man, who is believed to have driven off when the officer arrived at the house, was being sought by police.

"He is known in the area and we expect to make an arrest soon," he said.

Duncan Village station commissioner Alex Sosute condemned the incident, saying it was wrong for residents to take the law into their own hands.

"There is nothing wrong with a citizen's arrest but police will not tolerate the assault and murder of the accused," he said.

Sapa