A quick-acting police officer arrested a man who had just attacked a woman and tried to steal her necklace, bringing to an end a spate of such crimes carried out by the same thief.

Police Constable Josmar Grima was doing the rounds in St Paul’s Bay at about 8.30 p.m. last Saturday when he saw 64-year-old Theresa Schembri being attacked by 22-year-old Johan Scerri, from Valletta, who was trying to take her gold necklace.

PC Grima leapt into action and arrested Mr Scerri. Investigations indicated that he had robbed another four women in the same manner.

He took a total of €2,300 in jewellery and cash from his victims who were all in their 50s and 60s.

The four other women were attacked in Valletta, Sliema and St Julians in the past few weeks.

When he was arraigned yesterday, defence lawyer José Herrera said that after having spoken to the prosecution team, Police Inspectors Edmond Cuschieri and Joseph Busuttil, he thought a suspended jail term and a supervision order was appropriate.

Magistrate Anthony Vella handed down a two-year jail term suspended for four years and placed him under a supervision order for three years.

He also ordered him to pay three of the victims €600 each while the fourth received €180, according to the value of their stolen items.