Two suspected-bag snatchers arrested in capital, guns seized

AMMAN — Following several street robberies where women had their bags snatched in the capital, the Public Security Department (PSD) has formed investigation teams, leading to the arrest of two suspects, according to a PSD statement.

A recent case was reported in Tlaa Al Ali in north Amman, where two suspects in a vehicle snatched a woman’s bag, causing her to fall and sustain injuries, the statement said.

After issuing an all-points bulletin on the suspects and their vehicles, the investigation teams began field tours around the areas where the cases were recorded, the PSD statement continued.

One of the police patrols in north Amman   spotted one of the flagged vehicles, and attempted to stop it.

The driver refused to stop and ran over one of the officers, who is now in a fair condition, before crashing into the patrol and managing to escape, according to the PSD. 

The police quickly established that the vehicle’s number plate was fake and continued their investigations, identifying the two suspects who were in the vehicle and tracking them to a house in Amman, the statement said. 

The police raided the house and arrested the two suspects and four others.

Officers also seized three firearms, live ammunition, JD5,000 in cash, gold and diamonds, mobile phones and tablets, watches and a quantity of narcotic pills. PSD personnel also confiscated the vehicle which the suspects allegedly used to commit the crimes, the statement said.

During questioning, the suspects confessed to jointly committing 33 bag snatchings, including the recent robbery in Tlaa Al Ali, in addition to hitting the police officer with the vehicle. 

They also confessed to stealing a safe containing gold and JD12,000 from a house in the capital, as well as carrying out an armed robbery on a shop. 

The investigation continues.