Police arrested a 77-year-old man on Sunday afternoon for snatching a gold chain off a female victim at the void deck of a flat along Gangsa Road.

The suspect pounced on his victim from behind at about 8.35am on Sunday morning, and shouts from her caught the attention of two individuals nearby, who managed to note his appearance and the direction he ran off to.

Police arrested him in the same vicinity less than five hours later. He will be charged in court on Tuesday.

If convicted for snatch theft, the man faces a maximum jail term of seven years and may also be caned.