Thief fails to outrun pursuers, gets trapped in yard

Dec 13, 2011 News

Christmas shoppers will have one less thief to worry about after a seemingly frequent pick pocket was

Christmas thief after chase by public spirited persons

hauled off to the lock ups. But his capture came only after a chase by public spirited persons who cornered him in a yard at Church and Carmichael streets.
The thief who found himself fleeing from four men had stolen an unsuspecting Christmas shopper’s cell phone and jewelry. The woman was buying from a store at the time.
According to an eyewitness and one of the good Samaritans who assisted in the apprehension of the thief, he was driving east along Robb Street, just making the turn on to Avenue of the Republic when a young man out of nowhere ended up in the path of his vehicle. He hit his brakes hard.
The man said that he came out of his vehicle inquiring if the boy was mad. He said he subsequently saw a woman emerging from the Chinese Trading business located on the left hand side of the street yelling “thief, thief, thief.”
By that time the youngster had taken off running in an easterly direction. The man right away took off after him.
He said that as he ran he kept yelling thief and other persons joined in the pursuit. By this time, he said, at least four men were chasing the crook who turned left along King Street. The man said they did not give up; they followed the perpetrator as he continued running.
He tried to evade them when he leaped over a fence and into a yard. That is where the petty thief’s luck ran out as he could not find a way out of the yard. He was cornered.
The man subsequently gave up and fate had it that a police patrol vehicle was passing at the said time. The man was searched by the ranks and other stolen articles were recovered.
The police also found other cell phones in the thief’s possession.