Good Samaritans chase purse snatcher

Photo: Google Street View

Last Thursday evening two Vernon residents went above and beyond the call of duty to track down and stop a purse snatcher.

RCMP say that on Jan 29 at about 5:20 p.m. a Vernon woman was dropping her children off at the Boys and Girls Club when she witnessed a man in the passenger side door of her car.

She saw him take off with her purse.

The woman screamed for help and that is when the young Vernon couple took action.

“A woman down the street heard the cry for assistance and yelled back and asked if that guy had stolen something from her,” explained RCMP Spokesman Gord Molendyk.

That’s when the 35-year-old Vernon woman took off chasing the suspect on foot while her husband jumped in the car and followed in hot pursuit.

“The two good Samaritans caught up to the male suspect and confronted him in the parking lot of Carl’s JR on Hwy. 97 in Vernon,” said Molendyk.

“The husband confronted the suspect and grabbed the purse from him and told him that they were calling the police.”

The suspect then took off and the woman followed him until he ducked into an alley.

“Our officers responded to the area within seconds and cordoned it off for our Police Service Dog Unit,” said Molendyk.

“Unfortunately the suspect in this case was not apprehended; however because of the action by the two good Samaritans the purse and contents were recovered."

Did you help the woman get her purse back? If so call us at 250-860-5050 or email us at [email protected].