A robbery attempt by a juvenile who was preying on an unsuspecting university student with a purse and cell phone in hand was thwarted when the young thief ran straight into the “long arms of the law” after carrying out the theft sometime this morning.

According to Belmopan police, the student was walking on Oriole Street near the Belmopan Comprehensive School heading towards Social Security Board around 10:00 a.m. when someone passed on a bike and grabbed her purse and Samsung Galaxy cell phone from her.

Luckily, there were two police officers on foot patrol in the area who were able to nab the thief shortly after he had committed the act. Police reported, however, that they had to fire two shots in their attempt to apprehend the suspect, who was not injured.

Police were able to recover the stolen items, and they charged the culprit, a 17-year-old minor, with theft.

Of recent, there have been a number of assaults/jackings on the walkways in the capital city of Belmopan, and Officer Commanding Belmopan Police, Superintendent Howell Gillett, is asking Belmopan residents, especially students, to be alert when using the walkways and encourages persons to walk in groups and refrain from using their cell phones and other valuables in public view while on the pathways.