A 12-year-old boy bravely chased a man who snatched his mother’s bag in Marsa yesterday.

The thief was arrested shortly after 9.30am in Patri Magri Street.

A 39-year-old woman had parked her car outside an outlet and went inside for some shopping while her son stayed inside, police said.

Apparently thinking the boy was distracted, a man reached into the car, grabbed the woman’s bag from the passenger seat and ran off. The boy jumped out and gave chase.

Eyewitnesses alerted the police who immediately started a search for the man and boy. The 28-year-old Cospicua man, who is known to the police, was arrested a short while later and the boy was accompanied to the police station.

The man, who is known to the police, was arrested a short while later

Unaware of what had happened, the mother went to the station to report her son’s disappearance, then spotted him walking towards it accompanied by officers.

The boy confirmed the arrested man had stolen the bag.

In similar incidents two years ago, at least two hold-ups ended badly for the perpetrators when victims retaliated and were even instrumental in getting the robbers arrested.

However, security experts noted fighting back was not always wise.

Most timesofmalta.com commentators yesterday hailed the boy as a hero and others urged people not to leave bags in a robber’s reach.

Some noted that the incident could have had serious consequences for the child, who they said risked his life by chasing the robber.