A suspect has been arrested and charged in three purse snatchings in Winnipeg where police say the victims were elderly, and the thefts were violent.

Police say the first of the thefts was on Sept. 20 at midday when a male approached a 79-year-old woman and used a knife to cut her purse strap before fleeing in a nearby vehicle.

Two days later, police say a male suspect stole a 66-year-old woman's purse before fleeing in a vehicle, and the same thing happened again to a 79-year-old woman on Sept. 26, but that time the suspect fled on foot.

None of the women were injured.

Police say some of the women's stolen credit and debit cards were used at gas stations, motels and a restaurant.

A 50-year-old man from Winnipeg was arrested Sept. 27 and faces charges of robbery and fraud, and has been released on an undertaking.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2022.