CHENNAI: A 29-year-old man, who robbed a shopkeeper at knife-point was chased and nabbed by passersby and others, while his accomplice managed to flee, here on Monday afternoon.
The arrested was identified as Dhileep Kumar, (29), of Sembium. His accomplice identified as Anand Babu, (28), of Kolathur is still at large.
According to police, Prabhakaran, (51), resident of Sadasivam Street in Metha Nagar, was running a fancy store on Nungambakkam High Road.
Around 3 pm, two bike-borne men arrived at the shop. While the rider stayed back, the pillion rider barged into the shop, and demanded all the cash kept in the cash box, at knife point.
Scared into submission, Prabhakaran parted with all the money. The robber took `2.38 lakh and a costly mobile phone from Prabhakaran and ran out of the shop and sped away in the two-wheeler that was kept revving.
Immediately, Prabhakaran came out of the shop and raised an alarm leading to passersby and the motorists chasing the robber duo. Others, who were coming in the opposite direction too understood what was going on and blocked the road.
The duo managed to ride for some distance before getting trapped. Even as the rider was caught, the pillion rider managed to escape from the spot.
Meanwhile, Prabhakaran had alerted the police. The cash and the mobile phone were recovered from the bike rider and handed over to the patrol vehicle that was deputed by the control room.
Police have registered a case and are in search of the absconding accomplice.