A 35-year-old woman chased and caught a 15-year-old who had snatched her purse and mobile phone. However, before she could catch up with him, he was able to hand over the stolen phone to his associate who managed to escape.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when Savithri, who lives in Jalahalli and works in a private firm in Hebbal, was returning home from work. She was waiting at a bus stop in Hebbal when the youth snatched her phone and purse.
She ran after him and saw him hand over the stolen items to another man who fled in a different direction. Savithri pursued the youth and nabbed him with the help of a few passers-by.
The woman has registered a complaint.
A senior police officer said, “We suspect that he is part of a gang. Most of the offenders are juveniles.”
The gang targets people as they board and alight from buses during peak hours on Ballari Road, especially on the stretch between Hebbal and Kodigehalli.