Suspect tracked down in minutes after thief targets 91-year-old at Tesco store

A suspect was tracked down and arrested just minutes after a 91-year-old had cash snatched from him at a Tesco Express store.

The pensioner was targeted after withdrawing £10 from a cash machine at the shop in Alfreton Road, Radford, at approximately 7.30am on Monday morning.

A staff member went to the pensioner’s aid and called police after viewing CCTV of the incident.

The footage showed a man follow the elderly customer into the shop before snatching the bank note from the top of his mobility trolley.

The thief ran out the store but it wasn’t long before a suspect was in handcuffs.

Neighbourhood officers travelled to the area and soon located a man matching the description of the offender in nearby Hartley Road.

The 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and was taken into custody for questioning.

Inspector Liz Gaskin, of the City Central neighbourhood policing team, which is based at Radford Road Police Station, said:

“This was fantastic work by the arresting officers.

“Thanks to the clear description provided to us by the staff member, the officers were able to conduct a search for the offender and a man matching the description was detained just 20 minutes later.

“Clearly this was a shameful crime, so I’m delighted a suspect was very quickly located and detained.

“Thankfully the elderly gentleman was not injured but needless to say this was a very unpleasant ordeal for him and he is being supported by officers."