Attempted Handbag Snatch
Mon, 2005-12-12
At 10am on Monday, Police attended a reported attempted handbag snatch at the junction of South Road and Southcote Road in Paget. On arrival officers spoke with the victim, a 38 year old Paget woman, who stated that around 9:30am she parked her car at her Southcote Road, Paget residence and went inside. However, when she left the house a short time later to return to her vehicle, she found an unknown man searching the interior of her car. The Paget woman shouted at the man, telling him to get away from her car; but the suspect ignored her and continued searching. The victim then approached the suspect and attempted to take her handbag, which he was searching through, from him. At this time the suspect attempted to make good his escape, but the Paget woman managed to hold on to him and a struggle ensued. During the struggle the suspect picked up a rock and tried to hit the 38 year old woman with it, before breaking free and running west on Southcote Road on to South Road, with the victim chasing after him. A passing motorist saw the Paget woman calling for help while chasing the suspect and immediately stopped his truck to assist. Another motorist also stopped his car after seeing the Paget woman and the male motorist chasing the suspect and joined in the pursuit. As a result the suspect, a 37 year old, Pembroke man, was eventually detained by the two good Samaritans at the entrance to Elbow Beach until Police arrived. It appears that the Pembroke man managed to take an unknown amount of cash from the victim's handbag. He was arrested, taken to Hamilton Police Station and detained. Inquiries into this incident are underway.
The Bermuda Police Service would like to commend the two individuals who stopped to help the victim in this incident, a 38 year old Paget woman, for their quick thinking and willingness to lend a hand. Their actions prove that the public's assistance, by providing information to the Police or taking action to deter crime, is a vital part of the ongoing partnership between the community and Police which helps keep Bermuda a safe, secure and peaceful place for all.
