LOUIS TRICHARDT – "He was too big and strong, so I hit him with my handbag, tripped him and wrestled with him to the ground." These were the words of Inspector Dumi Chauke who apprehended an armed robber all by herself in Krogh Street last week Friday.

Insp Chauke was off-duty at the time of the incident. She was thus dressed in plain clothes. She, together with other family members, parked their car opposite Standard Bank and started walking in the direction of People's Bank.

The next moment she heard people shouting and pointing in the direction of a tall well-build man running towards her.

"I immediately realised that something was wrong and my police training took over," said Dumi.

Insp Chauke stretched out her arms in an effort to block the approaching man's path. She, however, realised that the suspect was far bigger than her and swung at him with her handbag.

As the handbag struck the suspect against his head, she tripped him and grabbed him by his shirt. Both herself and the suspect tumbled to the ground and started wrestling. At one stage the man pushed her away, jumped up and started running again. He, however, misjudged and ran into a parked car. Insp Chauke was still recovering from her wrestling match with the suspect, but by that time bystanders realised what was going on and surrounded the suspect.

The suspect, 30-year-old Lawrence Mabada, was arrested on the spot. Moments before he encountered Insp Chauke, he tried to rob and elderly Indian man at gun point. The gun, which was unlicensed, was recovered and Mabada was charged with attempted robbery and for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He appeared in court on Monday and his case was postponed until February 19. In the meantime Mabada will remain in custody until this time. Lucky for Insp Chauke, Mabada did not have time to use the firearm against her.