‘A brazen daytime robbery’: Man arrested after stealing woman’s purse on Saanich street

One man has been arrested after stealing a woman’s purse off her person during a daytime robbery on a Saanich street.

Saanich Police say that the incident took place on Dec. 16 at 12:30 p.m. when a woman was loading items into her vehicle near Cedar Hill Cross Road and Ophir Street.

According to police, a man approach the woman from behind, grabbed her and grabbed her purse before running off.

The woman chased after the suspect, however, lost sight of him as he turned down a nearby street.

Officers attended the area and, with the help of the public were able to locate the suspect nearby.

Once the man was apprehended, police were able to identify that it was the same suspect who had been responsible for two business break-ins earlier in the week along Shelbourne Street.

“A brazen daytime robbery like this in Saanich is very uncommon. Members of the public played a pivotal role in providing timely information to E-Comm 9-1-1 and to our officers on the call which ultimately led to the quick apprehension of the offender,” reads a statement from Saanich Police.

The man, an 18-year-old, was held in custody and will be before the courts today. Police are recommending a charge of robbery.  

Fortunately, the woman did not receive any serious injuries and her purse was recovered and returned to her by officers. 

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