Hundreds of thieves made a clean getaway after looting an overturned lorry of its load of washing powder as police watched on helplessly.<br /><br />The lorry was full of boxes of MAQ brand washing powder when it overturned in the Midvaal municipality of north-eastern South Africa’s Gauteng Province.<br /><br />A video shot by a passenger in a passing car shows hundreds of people at the scene, with many standing on the side of the felled lorry.<br /><br />Many vehicles are parked nearby as people pull over to help themselves to the free goods.<br /><br />A police officer is seen talking to a driver but he seems powerless to stop the looting frenzy going on behind him.<br /><br />More than 43,000 people saw the video within 24 hours of it being filmed.<br /><br />Some commenters raged at the lawlessness of the mob when presented with an opportunity to steal.<br /><br />Odp Bothma wrote: "It shows the lack of integrity, discipline, and moral compass!!!!! Civilized people do not behave like this!!!!!!!"<br /><br />Bettie Wentzel even suggested the "accident" had been caused deliberately, writing: "Apparently these types of accidents are being instigated in order to be robbed. I mean, come on! it’s a straight road!"<br /><br />It was not reported whether the unnamed lorry driver was injured, and the total value of the goods he was carrying is not known.<br /><br />It was not clear whether police had taken any action against any looters.
