Udupi: In a hot chase here, the traffic police succeeded in nabbing two young men within 30 minutes, for snatching away a purse from the hand of a woman tourist in the city.

The arrested accused were identified as Manohar and Shakilesh, both from Kolalagiri in the taluk. They had snatched a bag from a tourist lady identified as Jamuna from Bengaluru, who had come in a bus to Srikrishna Math here on 20th August, Sunday.

According to the sources, Jamuna was crossing the parking spot at Rajangana of the Math to board her bus after paying obeisance to the deity when the youngsters suddenly came to her, forcibly took away a purse she held, and ran away. They then got away in a vehicle.

A traffic police constable, Shivappa was immediately alerted about the theft by an auto-rickshaw driver at the spot. Shivappa began to chase the two in his motor bike as the thieves fled through Kalsanka, Ambagilu and cornered them at LV temple at Puttur near here. A cellphone worth Rs 15,000 and Rs 3,000 in cash found inside the purse were returned to the true owner.

The thieves were taken to the town police station and a case was registered.