An alleged gold band snatcher was yesterday shot by a policeman who chased him after he reportedly snatched the band from a woman and ran away.

Police in a release said they are investigating the circumstances under which the 23-year-old man of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, was shot in the right thigh around 07:10 hrs yesterday on Lombard Street.

The release said the young man stanched the band from housewife Lalita Shivgobin of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, at Croal Street near where passengers disembark from minibuses.

An alarm was raised and several public-spirited citizens gave chase. They were joined by an armed policeman, who, in an effort to arrest the young man, shot him in the thigh.

The gold band was recovered and after being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital the alleged thief was placed in police custody.