A quick-thinking 13-year-old girl helped the Vakola police trace a knife-wielding mobile phone snatcher who had targeted a school teacher on the night of June 30. The accused, who was on a motorbike, had pulled up on the victim, Divya Parmar, 27, near the Western Express Highway.

The victim, along with her dog Koko and her 13-year-old neighbour, was out for a night walk at Vakola in Santacruz when the accused began following them on his bike. ILLUSTRATIONS/UDAY MOHITE

According to the police, Parmar was walking her Pomeranian, Koko, and was accompanied by the young girl, who is her neighbour, when, around 11.30 pm, an unidentified biker, riding on the wrong side of the road, began following them and revving his engine aggressively. Eventually, he tried to snatch the woman’s mobile phone. Parmar, however, held on tightly and screamed, “Chor! Chor!” Locals then gathered at the scene.