Thief Cuts Off Baby�s Hand

The shrill cry of a baby saved its mother from being robbed, but the baby ended with its hand badly cut by the pick-pocket. The two-year-old baby strapped on its mother�s back, cried out in pain when the thief slashed its hand while attempting to cut open the mother�s hand bag at the busy Kaneshie market in Accra yesterday. The child�s mother, Margaret Afriyie, a businesswoman, had gone to the market to buy for her store. Eye witnesses said the baby�s left hand was in the hand bag, and as the thief struck a knife to the side of the bag in an attempt to cut it open, the bay�s loud cry alerted the mother who was initially confused because she did not realize what was happening to her baby. When she stopped and checked on the baby, she detected that her bag, which contained an amount of GH�5,000, had been cut open together with the baby�s hand. Fortunately for her, the sharp cry of the baby alerted the pick pocket who abandoned his �operation� and bolted with the speed of lighting. Onlookers who saw him take to his heels, attempted in vain to arrest him. Speaking to the Times Madam Afriyie who looked traumatized, said she was thankful to God for protecting her child and the money from the hands of criminals parading as sellers and buyers at the market.