A Booysens resident shot and beat up two men who allegedly robbed a convenience store on Thursday, Johannesburg police said.

The man heard what was happening in the store and waited for the robbers to flee before acting, Inspector Lorraine van Emmerik said.

He shot and wounded one of the alleged thieves and beat the other up.

They were part of a gang of five who entered the store in Augustus Street at 3.15pm and allegedly held everyone inside at gunpoint.

"They emptied the tills before fleeing on foot. As they were running away, the community member shot one suspect in the buttocks and beat the other one up."

The other three hijacked a passing vehicle and fled in it.

"The man in the vehicle was not hurt, but was traumatised. Police are still searching for the three men who got away."

Paramedics treated the other two and, said Emmerik, "they were fine enough to go into custody.

"The police must thank the community member for his quick thinking, and for alerting police. His efforts would now help us with the location of the remaining three suspects."