Townsville Police charge 14yo Pimlico boy over three bag snatches at shopping centres

A teenager allegedly involved in three bag snatches at Townsville shopping centres on Sunday has been arrested and charged, but another is still on the run.

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A TEENAGER allegedly involved in three bag snatches at Townsville shopping centres has been arrested and charged.

The 14-year-old Pimlico boy was arrested at a Gulliver home on Wednesday afternoon, after allegedly avoiding police arrest since the incidents on Sunday.

Three women were allegedly robbed by the teenagers within 90 minutes at different centres, with all victims walking towards their cars when the alleged thieves struck.

A 60-year-old woman was allegedly targeted at Willows first, but she didn’t give in when the teenager allegedly tried to pull her bag off her shoulder.

The woman was allegedly dragged across the ground in the fight to keep her bag.

Another woman was targeted at Woolworths, Hermit Park just minutes later when the teenagers allegedly grabbed her handbag from her trolley and fled in an allegedly stolen car.

The teens allegedly moved on to Kmart at Aitkenvale next, and allegedly robbed a 30-year-old woman who was walking to her car.

Ainslie Burgess was stalked by a group of kids at a shopping centre who stole her wallet straight out of her hands. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Ainslie Burgess said the ordeal, which played out in front of her six-year-old daughter, was petrifying.

The teenager was arrested late Wednesday afternoon, and has been charged with six offences, including stealing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and burglary.

Police are looking for another teenager, who has been actively avoiding police this week.

Originally published as Townsville Police charge 14yo Pimlico boy over three bag snatches at shopping centres