A purse snatcher picked the wrong day, the wrong store with the wrong witnesses.
According to those who work at Family Dollar in Lincoln Park, the thief grabbed a woman’s handbag around 10:30 a.m. Saturday and took off running.
The victim was a customer inside the store when it happened. Witnesses say she ran out of the store yelling at the man.
Even the store manager jumped into action to try to stop the thief.
Another customer named Pete, an Army veteran, also happened to be inside the store jumped into his jeep and tracked the bad guy down.
After chasing the man a short distance, Pete was able to corner the thief behind a nearby bar. He told 7 Action News he was able to stop the man from getting into a getaway car with two other men inside who were waiting nearby.
“I just chased him down. I got him outside of the car. The car took off and left him there,” said Pete. “I think he was pretty much out of breath and got tired.”
Pete, who is a register CPL holder, told the thief he was armed and was able to hold the man until police arrived.
Lincoln Park and Melvindale Police got to the scene quickly.
“I just told him stay right here don’t go anywhere,” said Pete. “Police are on their way and he just put his hands on the front of my jeep and stayed there for me.”
The man was arrested and the purse was returned to the victim.
The victim is grateful for Pete’s heroic actions.
