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Witnesses nab mugging suspect

Witnesses to an attempted downtown mugging intervened on Wednesday morning and managed to hold the suspect.

Witnesses to an attempted downtown mugging intervened on Wednesday morning and managed to hold the suspect.

A 31-year-old Penticton man is now in police custody following four similar incidents over the last four days. RCMP investigators are seeking charges against the man in relation to all four incidents.

On Wednesday, police received a report at 8:30 a.m. that a 46-year-old woman was shoved to the ground when a man walked up to her and demanded her purse. The suspect tried to pull the purse away, however, she fell to the ground on top of her purse with the male fleeing empty-handed. Then at 10:55 a.m. several witnesses intervened in an altercation on Main Street and Padmore Avenue. A 55-year-old man had exited a fast cash outlet when he was approached by the suspect who attempted to rob him, witnesses intervened and held the suspect for police.

"The Penticton general investigation section is continuing their investigation into these crimes. We are thankful for the assistance rendered by the public and the attention to others in the downtown core," said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

Prior to these incidents, a purse snatching occurred on June 12 near the Capitol Restaurant on Main Street. An 88-year-old woman was approached by an unknown man who asked her for change, to which she replied she had none. The man then knocked her to the ground and fled with her purse. The woman was assisted by motorists passing by who saw the altercation. She did not suffer serious physical injuries, however, police said she was very shaken by the incident.