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Do-Gooders Help Police Chase Down Alleged Thief

(Updated at 2:20 p.m on 12/23/21) Two shoppers helped the Arlington County Police Department arrest a suspect accused of robbery in Ballston yesterday.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on the 900 block of N. Stuart Street, about a block away from Ballston Common Mall.

The suspect — Zachary [Redacted], 22, of Springfield, Va. — allegedly pushed a 65-year-old man down while he was trying to withdraw money from an ATM and stole the man’s two wallets. According to police, that’s when two witnesses took action.

“Two patrons of an adjacent shop witnessed the robbery and immediately chased the suspect on foot,” according to a police press release. “During the chase, one of the witnesses was able to flag down an Arlington County officer, who joined the chase and apprehended the suspect shortly after in a parking lot in the 4200 block of Fairfax Drive.”

The victim was not hurt. [Redacted] was charged with robbery. He’s currently being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility after his bond was denied.

Update at 5 p.m. — [Redacted] is a competitive figure skater and works as a skating coach at nearby Kettler Capitals Iceplex, we’re told.