A robbery suspect was arrested by police after an eagle-eyed off-duty PCSO spotted him in a Swansea retail park.
Community Support Officer Daryl Williams had spent most of his shift studying CCTV footage following the incident in Carmarthen Road which saw an 88-year-old woman have her handbag snatched.
After finishing work, PCSO Williams called into a supermarket to pick up something for his tea when he spotted the suspect Timothy John Pugh walking into the Argos store at Pontarddulais Retail Park.
PCSO Williams, who is based at Penlan Police Station, dialled 101 from his mobile phone and kept observations on Pugh. Within minutes, officers had arrived and arrested the suspect.
Pugh, aged 35, was later charged with robbery and pleaded guilty when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court. He is due to be sentenced on 28th July.
PCSO Williams said: “I have worked in the Fforestfach area for over a year and when the description of the suspect came in, I knew from my local knowledge that it could be him which was later confirmed by CCTV.
“By the time I had finished work Pugh was a suspect for the robbery. I called into Marks and Spencer to do some shopping when I saw him going into Argos.
“I immediately called the control room and kept an eye on him and within 10 minutes officers had arrived and made an arrest.”
