The Hongkong Telegraph.
Thursday, June 24, 1937.
香港英六月廿四號 禮拜四
五月十六日
No 15243
Page 7
Plucky Act By Boy Scout
Arrests Snatcher: Is Commended
The prompt and plucky action of a Chinese Boy Scout was responsible for securing the arrest of an unemployed man who attempted to snatch a handbag containing $2 and sundry articles from Miss Chan To-kwan, aged 30, in Matheson Street yesterday. The snatcher, Chan Tak, aged 27, was brought before Mr. W.Schofield at the Central Magistracy this morning, when he was sentenced to three months' hard labour and ordered to be seen off to the country.
Inspector A.V.Baker, who prosecuted, said that while Miss Chan was walking along Matheson Street, carrying her bag under her arm, defendant came up and attempted to snatch the bag away. Miss Chan pressed the bag to her side, and shouted out. Defendant ran away, but was chased and caught by Scout Dicken Lay, of the 13th Hongkong Troop, in Sharp Street. It was very smart action on the part of the Scout, added the Inspector.
The lady received several scratches on her left arm, where she clasped the bag, and it was possible that the scratches were caused when defendant tried to pull it away.
His Worship, addressing Lay, said he wishes to commend him very warmly for his action, adding that he thought it had been done extremely well. He would ask the police to bring the matter to the notice of the local Boy Scout Commissioner.
Inspector Baker mentioned that there had recently been several cases of theft in Wanchai in which civilians had assisted the police in effecting arrests.