Patrons came to the rescue as a woman in a Hervey Bay pub absconded with the wallet and memories of an 88-year-old man.
Just after midday yesterday witnesses allege a woman fled the hotel in Urangan after snatching the wallet of the older man, who was knocked down and shaken in the incident.
Four incensed patrons gave chase, joined by a staff member in the carpark that heard the commotion.
Having risked their own safety, the good Samaritans recovered the wallet, light of an amount of cash but still containing treasured memorabilia of the elderly man’s wife, who had recently passed.
Police reportedly arrived promptly and Detective Sergeant David Guild said they were looking for a man and woman in connection to the incident, thought to be in their late 20s or early 30s.
The octogenarian was “visibly shaken and stressed” but otherwise unharmed.
Police later reported taking a 33-year-old woman into custody. She was charged last night (6 July) with robbery and will face Maryborough Magistrate’s Court.