A 43-year-old man is in police custody, in connection with a brazen purse snatching incident inside the Red Robin restaurant at 800 Tolmie Avenue last weekend.
Saanich Police report a man entered the restaurant around 2pm Sunday, and grabbed two purses sitting on an empty chair next to a table of diners. He fled across Blanshard Street, dropping the purses as staff chased him on foot. Another witness got in his car and tracked the man down on Alder Street, where the suspect attempted to hide behind a fence. The witness was able to restrain the man until police arrived.
The suspect is known to Saanich police and was wanted for previous thefts in the region. On top of his warrant, he now faces numerous new charges including:
Two counts of Theft, three counts of Breaching his Recognizance, four counts of Failing to Comply with his Probation Order and one count of Obstruction.
He is being held in custody until his court appearance.