A thief who snatched an old man’s wallet is now in custody thanks to the bravery of four schoolgirls. The incident invoking images from Japanese animation took place in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok.

The man followed a pensioner from a grocery shop to his apartment block and grabbed his wallet containing about $US 15, reports the PrimaMedia news agency.

The schoolgirls, aged between 15 and 17, witnessed the attack and chased the robber. They managed to trip him and pin him to the ground before calling the police.

The assailant turned out to have a long criminal record. He had served two jail terms and was released from prison just three days before the latest theft.