A handbag thief, high on drugs, had been arrested by the metro police after being left behind by his accomplices at the scene of a smash and grab.
The incident occurred in broad daylight on the R21 south at the Voortrekker Road off-ramp on Tuesday.
Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesman, said the arrest was made at 8.40am.
“Our equestrian members came across an empty stationary vehicle on the roadway with an open door at the turn-off. On investigation, the officers were informed by onlookers that a woman had her handbag grabbed from her vehicle,” Kgasago said.
With the assistance of members of the public, the metro police officers were able to arrest the suspect. Unfortunately, the woman’s handbag was missing. Witnesses mentioned that the arrested suspect threw the handbag into a getaway car which left him behind.
The 32-year-old man was found to be high on drugs. He was taken to Kempton Park Police Station where he was charged with theft and malicious damage to property.
The police are in the process of obtaining information of the suspect’s accomplice who took off in a vehicle with the handbag.
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