tenses

[azz]

a. They arrested Tom, who stole an officer's badge.
b. They arrested a shopkeeper, who stole an officer's badge.
c. The arrested a shopkeeper who stole an officer's badge.

Could we tell if the arrest came before the stealing or after?

Many thanks

[trolley]

I assumed that the offence for which Tom or the shopkeeper was arrested was the stealing of the badge so it's hard for me to imagine the theft occurring later. I also assumed that if you meant that the arrest came first, then you would have said it...
"They arrested Tom, who later stole an officer's badge."
I should point out that I have been accused, many times, of assuming too much.

[Erik_Kowal]

I should point out that I have been accused, many times, of assuming too much.

I assume that most of us have been accused of that.