CHERAS: A serial snatch thief was finally arrested following a video clip being circulated of the suspect beating a teenager while trying to grab her handphone.

Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Mohamed Mokhsein Mohamed Zon said that the 15-year-old victim had been jogging at Taman Midah here on Oct 12 when the motorcycle-riding suspect approached her.

"He tried to snatch the handphone that had been held with a strap on her neck, which led to the victim falling to the ground. He then punched the victim on her head before running away with the handphone.

"On Oct 16, we arrested the suspect at a restaurant in Taman Dagang Permai after acting on information obtained through our investigations. The motorcycle that was believed to have been used in the incident was also seized," he said when contacted Friday (Oct 18).

The 20-year-old suspect was linked to nine similar cases in the Cheras and Wangsa Maju areas.

"He was also arrested five times before in relation to a snatch theft case in 2016 and for drug related offences in 2019. A urine test showed that he tested positive for both methamphetamine and amphetamine," ACP Mohamed Mokhsein said, adding that the suspect has been remanded until Oct 21.