Monday 10 April 2017

Former Newcastle Jets Captain hailed a hero after chasing down bag thief

BY JARROD MELMETH

Former captain of the Newcastle Jets, Andy Roberts, has been involved in an altercation on the Pacific Highway at Charlestown after catching a man who ran off with his wife, Alison's handbag.

The 47-year-old who owns his own menswear store at Charlestown was in a three-piece suit at the time of the chase, but that did not stop him cornering the suspect and waiting for police to arrive.

Alison reported her bag being stolen to Mr Roberts at about 4pm after hearing the back door of her salon open and close and saw the thief leave with her handbag.

Mr Roberts said the property was returned but not before he was allegedly punched in the face by the thief.

"When I confronted him and asked for it back, he took a swipe at me, my wife was there, so I held her back and just took the punch.

"The bag fell to the ground because he had it in the back of his hoodie, we got that back, then we asked for the rest of the bag back, but he wouldn't admit to where it was.

"When the police arrived and we started chasing him down the street with about two or three others in tow," Mr Roberts said.

Andy Roberts and Jets Player Nigel Boogard. Photo source: Newcastle Jets