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An alleged bag-snatcher crashed through a glass door at a shopping mall in Australia on Sunday but managed to escape unharmed.

The man allegedly stole a purse from a 50-year-old woman at a news agency in the shopping centre, Western Australia police said.

Closed-circuit TV footage showed the culprit running and crashing into the glass, knocking him flat on the ground.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) STORE OWNER GREG RICE, SAYING:

"When I first came out here, I didn't realise it was a bag-snatch either. Didn't know what went on, really. I just thought somebody ran into the door, but as it turned out, when I saw how keen he was to get away, we realised something was up."

According to the police report, bystanders, unaware of the apparent theft, assisted the man before an accomplice stepped up and threatened them to let go.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TATTOO SHOP OWNER JAKE ADAMS, SAYING:

"He said 'I've got a gun, I'