The line up

Joddies bag had been snatched, but it wasn't the thief she was interested in catching

Jodie walked out of her favourite shoe shop with a smile on her face. She' d just got a 50 per cent discount on some designer heels she' d been eyeing longingly for weeks.

Her smile disappeared instantly when she felt her handbag being yanked off her shoulder. As surprised as she was, she still managed to hang on to the long strap, but the man who was trying to steal her bag spun around and pushed her hard.

She fell heavily on to the pavement, releasing her grip.

The thief sprinted off, weaving expertly between pedestrians.

Thief! Help! He stole my bag!'

Seemingly out of nowhere, another man launched himself at the fleeing criminal. Both of them fell to the pavement.

Unfortunately, the thief recovered more quickly than the Good Samaritan. He leapt to his feet, her bag still in his hands, and fled.

Jodie found herself surrounded by a small crowd of onlookers. Two helped her to her feet.

`Are you OK?' asked a woman.

Is anything broken?' asked someone else

I' ve called the police,' said another voice.

Jodie thanked everyone while trying to see past them to locate the man who tackled the thief, but she couldn' t see him anywhere.

A police car arrived soon after, along with two officers, although by that time the crowd had dispersed and the shoe shop owner was kindly looking after Jodie inside her shop.

She made Jodie sit down, and put a cup of tea in her hands. Jodie accepted it gratefully. Her hands were shaking. Even though she wasn' t hurt, the experience had left her shocked.

I' m Sergeant Mark

Peterson and this is Constable Jane Little, are you OK? Do you need medical assistance?'

No, I' m OK,' said Jodie, only my pride got bruised.' She was looking at the sergeant when she answered, but she couldn' t help glancing at Constable Little. She was anything but little. She was at least six feet tall.

Can either of you give us a description of the man?' asked Constable Little.

The shoe shop owner shook her head. I was inside serving customers, so didn' t see a thing. By the time I came out, the bag-snatcher was gone.'

What about you, Ma' am,' said the sergeant, addressing Jodie, notebook in hand. Can you give us a description?'

I¼ umm, yes, I got a good look at him,' said Jodie. About 5ft 10. Caucasian. Short cropped brown hair, lean build but muscular. Blue jeans and white T-shirt.

When I close my eyes I can see his face clearly, but I' m not sure how to describe it.'

I think we should take you down to the station,' said the sergeant. We should be able to put together a composite picture of the suspect using your help.'

At the station, Jodie gave as much detail as she could about the man' s face.

Constable Little kept adding and changing features to the computerised image on the screen bigger eyes, smaller eyes, wide mouth, narrower mouth, full lips, thin lips, weak chin, more

defined chin, prominent nose, smaller nose.

No, that' s not right either,' said Jodie. This is so frustrating, I know I' d recognise him if he was standing right in front of me.'

Just then, Inspector

Wilson, Constable Little' s boss, walked into the room.

Good idea. Let' s organise a line-up.'

Constable Little looked up in surprise. For a bag-snatch?'

The way I see it,' Inspector

Wilson declared, crims like him prey on the most vulnerable in our society women, whether young like Jodie here, or the elderly, who really are defenceless in these situations.

It' s about time we sent a message to all bag-snatchers, that we' ll pursue them with all means at our disposal.'

Within a couple of hours the police had rounded up five people who fitted

Jodie' s description for the line-up.

Don' t worry,' said Inspector Wilson, as they entered a small room. You' ll be able to see them through the glass, but they won' t be able to see you.'

Jodie didn' t think rounding up random people from the street would work, so she was amazed when she looked at number three it was him.

Can you see the man who stole your bag in this lineup?' asked the inspector.

Jodie shook her head. No, it' s not any of these men.'

Take your time,' said Inspector Wilson. `Are you sure?'

Positive.'

Thanks for your time,

Ma' am. If we need any more information from you, we' ll be in touch.'

Jodie paced outside the police station. Waiting. A few minutes later, the group of men from the line-up emerged. Number three spotted her and walked over.

You' re the woman who got her bag snatched today.'

Yes,' she nodded. I' m Jodie.'

Sean.' He shook her hand. I can' t believe you' re here,' Jodie said.

Well, I tried to talk to you after the bag snatching, but you were surrounded by people. Then later, I realised I should speak to the police. But when I got here, someone grabbed me and asked if I would agree to be part of a line-up.'

Guess we were destined to meet again,' said Jodie.

I' m glad, because I wanted to thank you for tackling that thief today. You' re my hero, and I was worried I' d never see you again. How about lunch, so I can thank you properly?'

`Soundsgreat,' Sean replied. But only if I pay, since your bag just got stolen.'

They shared smiles as they walked towards a nearby café.

Jodie did feel a little guilty about letting the police believe it was the thief she had described, but in this case, it was her Good Samaritan who she really didn' t want to get away.

DonÕ t worry, youÕ ll be able to see them through the glass, but they wonÕ t be able to see youÕ