A chain of events landed an alleged thief as well as his intended victim in hospital here on Wednesday morning.
No details have emerged about the thief as he is out cold in his hospital bed with head injuries compounded by a fractured leg, the Amrutahalli police said.
The thief, aged around 25, had targeted Sumitra Srinath (26), who was alone at her home in GKVK Layout after packing off her husband to work and three-year-old son to playschool.
He knocked on her door, asking for water. When she returned with it from the kitchen, the unwelcome visitor brandished a knife and made a grab for her chain, while raking her chest and stomach with the weapon. Ms. Srinath’s screams brought her landlady, Poornima, rushing downstairs. When she saw the attack through the window, she also started screaming for help. Neighbours who ran to help chased the thief who was by now fleeing.
“He ran upstairs and jumped from the first floor to the adjoining site, sustaining head injuries and fracturing his leg. Even then he continued to run,” an eyewitness said.
He sprinted towards a playground but stumbled and fell, panicking as he saw the pursuing crowd. The fall was broken by a boulder, injuring him further. “He continued to run and was chased almost till the Jakkur airbase after which he lost consciousness,” the eyewitness said.
By now the police, who had joined the chase, collared him.Ms. Srinath is being treated at Columbia Asia hospital while the thief was despatched to the Yelahanka Government hospital. Police officials both are out of danger.