Police warn against citizens arrest

Police are urging victims of crime to show caution and avoid attempting to make citizens arrests after officers intervened and helped a man arrest an alleged thief on York Street.

Police intervened in a fight at the Caltex star shop last Wednesday afternoon after a man noticed the alleged offender, who was accused of stealing a credit card and two mobile phones from his car at a Middleton Beach carpark earlier in the day, and confronted him at the service station.

Police say the man was driving into the CBD to cancel his credit cards when he noticed a car at the service station which fitted the description provided to him by members of the public at the beach.

The victim then approached the alleged thief and identified the stolen property in the car and took the offender’s keys to stop him from getting away.

A fight then developed and moved towards York Street when police officers on patrol saw the scuffle and called for back up, resulting in four police cars attending.

The alleged thief was apprehended and taken into custody.

A 33-year-old Albany man was later charged with stealing, criminal damage and two counts of gaining benefit by fraud.

Police allege the man had just used the victim’s credit card at the service station minutes before the fight broke out.

Albany police acting Senior Sergeant Derek Grimes warned the public to think twice before approaching alleged offenders.

“It is far better for the public to observe and provide information so we can do it as we have the skills and means to apprehend,” he said.

“People can get themselves into trouble so we would prefer they point us in the right direction.”

Sen Sgt Grimes said the incident was a timely reminder to not leave valuables in cars and be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around parked cars and in car parks to police.