Police arrest armed robber after chase

An armed man who had just held up a Bugibba jeweller's shop was caught by police last night after being chased by a passer-by for several blocks.

Police said the hold-up took place at Solid Gold Jewellery in Triq il-Hallel shortly before 9.30 p.m.

The 24-year-old man from Marsa, who was masked, entered the shop and demanded money from an employee who was alone at the time.

As he made his getaway on foot, a man who was passing by gave chase all the way to the new church in Qawra.

In the meantime the police had been alerted by an alarm set off from the jeweller's.

Police said Sergeant Stephen Micallef, from the Qawra police station, caught up with the armed man at Kennedy Grove and arrested him.

Police did not say if he offered resistance or how much he had stolen.