Quick action by public averts two separate robberies

PETALING JAYA: Quick action by members of the public led to the arrest of two snatch thieves in two incidents in Puchong and Pandan Indah in Selangor.
In the first case in Jalan Puteri in Puchong, a 19-year-old youth who tried to snatch the purse of a woman was caught by the public after he fell off his motorcycle.
Serdang district police chief ACP Megat Mohamad Aminuddin Megat Alias said the incident occurred at about 2.15pm on Saturday.
"The 40-year-old woman was approached by a man riding a motorcycle. The suspect suddenly pulled the purse she was holding and caused her to fall.
"However, the suspect fell from his motorcycle and members of the public quickly apprehended him. The victim's purse was also retrieved," he said today.
Megat Mohamad said the victim suffered injuries on her calf when she fell.
The suspect, who had a previous criminal record, was remanded today and the case is being investigated under Section 393 of the Penal Code for attempted robbery.
In another case, a 22-year-old man was detained after passers-by came to the rescue of a female snatch theft victim in Pandan Indah on Saturday.
Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Hamzah Alias said the incident took place at about 10am when the victim, a 29-year-old promoter, was walking around the shoplots near Pandan Indah.
She was suddenly approached by the suspect who snatched her handbag.
"The victim fell on the road and suffered bruises on her right hand and leg. Meanwhile, passers-by around the vicinity who witnessed the incident came to her rescue and apprehended the suspect, who is from Ampang too," he added.
The suspect was handed over to the police following the incident.
Hamzah said checks also found that the motorbike used during the robbery was reported stolen earlier bike and the case is being investigated for attempted robbery and under Section 411 of the Penal Code for possessing a stolen vehicle.