Police investigate theft incidents in Gelsenkirchen and Essen

Police in North Rhine-Westphalia are investigating two separate incidents of theft in the cities of Gelsenkirchen and Essen.

In Gelsenkirchen-Erle, bystanders apprehended a 48-year-old man after he attempted to steal goods from a drugstore. The suspect reportedly pushed an employee who tried to stop him. Two passersby detained the man, who was found to be carrying a knife, until police arrived. The suspect has been taken into custody.

In Essen, criminal investigators are searching for two women following a theft at the Willy-Brandt-Platz food area. A 52-year-old woman from the Netherlands reported her handbag stolen while dining at the Markthalle. Police have reviewed surveillance footage identifying two female suspects and have launched a public appeal for information.