$10k Karratha jewellery theft ends in arrest

Karratha City shopping centre was yesterday the site of an apparent midday jewellery theft which saw an off-duty police officer and security guards chase down a man for allegedly stealing more than $10,000 worth of jewellery from a centre jeweller.

It is alleged the 23-year-old man stole items of jewellery — mainly chains — from a Karratha City jeweller at about 12pm when shop staff alerted security.

Karratha police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Andy Stevens said the man had been stopped and arrested at his car by an off-duty police officer who was in the area and intervened when he saw security guards chasing him.

The alleged offender has been charged with one count of stealing and is due to appear before court in early May.

He is on bail with the condition that he does not attend the shopping centre.

The items of jewellery have since been returned to the store and it is believed no violence was involved in the incident.

Sen. Sgt Stevens said robberies of jewellers in Karratha City shopping centre were a rare occurrence.