A Good Samaritan bystander has intervened to stop a brazen thief who allegedly robbed a woman at an ATM moments earlier.
The mystery woman’s heroic act was captured on CCTV at Gungahlin Marketplace shopping centre in Canberra’s north on Wednesday afternoon.
The alleged thief was captured running up the escalators with a black shoulder bag before scooting across to hurry down another escalator.
He was suddenly stopped in his tracks by a woman who grabbed the bag.
A Good Samaritan bystander stopped an alleged thief from getting away with his victim’s money at a shopping centre in Canberra
The pair became embroiled in a tug of war for the bag as another woman who was apparently chasing him up the escalator ran over and also grabbed hold of him.
Several other shoppers then intervened to help the women restrain the man.
The relieved victim got her money back and the man fled from the scene.
Police attended and viewed CCTV footage which enabled them to identify the alleged offender.
The man, 54, was arrested shortly before min Lyneham.
He was charged with robbery, preventing the carrying out of a forensic procedure, and two counts of possessing knife without reasonable excuse.
Further charges were expected with the man set to appear in ACT Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Police said they would like to speak to the woman who prevented the man from fleeing the scene as well as any other witnesses who have not yet come forward.
Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The alleged thief was seen running up an escalator with his alleged victim in pursuit
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