Alice Springs police identify alleged handbag thief in Alice Springs

A 76-year-old woman has fought off a teen who tried to steal her handbag outside a shopping centre.

Northern Territory Police. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A 76-year-old woman has fought off a teen who tried to steal her handbag outside a shopping centre.

Southern Watch Commander Marc Watson said the woman was sitting in her car outside the East Side shops about 9pm Saturday when the boy approached her.

Sergeant Watson said the teen opened one of the woman’s car doors and “snatched” her handbag.

He said the woman chased and caught the teen but was punched in her shoulder.

Sergeant Watson said the boy fled the scene, leaving the woman’s handbag behind.

He said cops’ initial inquiries had identified a suspect and police would be “paying him a visit in the near future”.

In a separate incident, Sergeant Watson said police had arrested a 25-year-old man after he allegedly attacked a security guard.

He alleged the man had been walking through the CBD “acting aggressively” towards members of the public about 12.15pm Sunday.

Sergeant Watson said the man allegedly entered a shopping centre but was escorted off the premises by a security guard.

He said the man allegedly attacked the guard once they were outside on Hartley St, punching him and hitting him multiple times with a 1.5m tree branch.

Sergeant Watson alleged police reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and confirmed the man swung the tree branch at the security guard “at least ten times” and mad contact four times.

He said the security guard was able to apprehend the man before police arrived to arrest the alleged offender.

Sergeant Watson said the man had been charged with going armed in public,

assault a worker, and disorderly behaviour in a public place.

He said the man would face the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.

Originally published as Alice Springs police identify alleged handbag thief in Alice Springs