Bag-snatcher brought to heel in chase

Mu Kaleta doesn't want any

Animal control officer Mu Kaleta found himself dealing with a different sort of mongrel yesterday - a teenager who knocked an 83-year-old woman to the ground and stole her handbag.

Mr Kaleta sprinted after the youngster after witnessing the street robbery in Blockhouse Bay, west Auckland, just before lunchtime.

"This is my neighbourhood and I don't want any of that garbage going down. I live in it so it's up to me to assist and help out my community. It p's me off that these young fellas prey on elderly people," he said.

Mr Kaleta was walking to the shops with his family when they saw the teenager push the elderly woman.

She knocked her head on the ground and suffered an arm injury in the attack.

Mr Kaleta sprinted about 300 to 400m along Kinross St before catching up with the thief.

He then had to deal with an associate who followed the chase and lashed out in a bid to free his mate.

Mr Kaleta said he tried to fend off the man, who was aged about 30, with one hand while keeping his grip on the bag-snatcher.

He suffered several punches to the face, causing his nose to bleed and swell.

"I felt a boof in the nose and a few more after that. I'm trying to hold on to this young fella and get a few shots in myself. After he gave me a couple, he ... started walking down the road." '

Mr Kaleta said he was disappointed he could not hold both men. The associate left in a car before police arrived. The teenager was taken into custody and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police said Mr Kaleta's efforts should be recognised.