Man arrested for 90-year-old's robbery

A 49-year-old Christchurch man has been arrested and charged over the robbery of a 90-year-old woman in a supermarket carpark on Friday.

The woman had been loading groceries into her car when the man snatched her purse at the Countdown carpark on Colombo Street, Beckenham, about 12.50pm.

The woman grabbed on to the offender but was unable to hold him.

He took off on a bicycle with her purse and she fell to the ground, Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti said.

The alleged offender would appear in Christchurch District Court tomorrow charged with robbery.

Mr Tarawhiti said the victim was traumatised and was still recovering at home, but was relieved at the arrest.

- NZPA