State Senator, Sanitation Workers Help Nab Shoplifting Suspect In Midwood, Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A wild pursuit in Midwood, Brooklyn ended with a shoplifting suspect in handcuffs Thursday afternoon – but it wasn't police who caught him.
As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, the suspect was chased through the streets by Good Samaritans – including a New York state senator and two sanitation workers.
The man allegedly tried to sneak out of the Associated Supermarket at Avenue J and East 15th Street in Brooklyn with stolen coffee early Thursday afternoon.
"It wasn't his lucky day today," said Associated Supermarket manager Ashraf Abdelaal.
Strangers spoiled the alleged thief's plan, and a cellphone camera captured it all.
First, men outside the front door cornered him, but he escaped. State Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) then grabbed him, but he slipped away again.
At that point, New York City Sanitation Department workers Brian Tullo and Paul Hernandez took the baton of the marathon pursuit, chasing the suspect down busy Avenue J.
"We got these big heavy boots on and we're running and running," Tullo said. "And this guy was definitely fast."
With the help of two other Good Samaritans, the pair said they finally stopped the suspect.
"We've worked in this community for a very long time, so you know, we were just happy we were able to help out," Hernandez said.
Back at the scene, people were still buzzing late Thursday over the dramatic way the suspect was caught. CBS2's Jiang asked them what they would do in such a situation.
"I would run after him too," said Ivan Ortiz-Diaz of Sunset Park, adding that if it was his business, "I mean, let's be honest – what if it was your business being shoplifted too? I would expect the customers, the patrons, to run after him too."
Others said it would just be too risky.
"He could have a gun and kill people or, you know, I don't want to get kidnapped," said Midwood resident Breindy Lippel.
And Julio Torres, also of Midwood, said it would be a split-second decision.
"You got to think about it too -- putting life in danger and putting other people's lives in danger," Torres said.
In this case, about 10 people chose to chase a suspected criminal who stood charged with petit larceny Thursday night.
