Police caught up with a handcuffed theft suspect who escaped custody Thursday afternoon in Wahiawa.

The man fled on foot from Wahiawa General Hospital shortly before 4 p.m. and was on the loose for about 20 minutes, police said.

Officers canvassed the area and found the man, believed to be in his early 40s, several blocks from the hospital, a police spokeswoman said.

It’s the second incident in as many days of a handcuffed suspect fleeing police.

A handcuffed suspect led police on a chase on the North Shore Wednesday morning.

Police said officers were arresting and handcuffing the suspect after a threatening incident in Pupukea at about 10:45 a.m. While he was being handcuffed, the 37-year-old man fled.

Officers chased him and arrested him on additional charges of escape and resisting arrest.