Crime & Safety
Good Samaritan Assists Police in Catching Alleged Purse Snatcher
A Jackson man was arrested after he allegedly stole a woman's purse in the Lacey ShopRite parking lot
A Jackson man was arrested after he allegedly stole a woman’s purse in the Lacey ShopRite parking lot, police said.
Police arrested Adam Tanner, 28, after the department received a 911 call on Saturday, Aug. 11, reporting that a male had stolen a 68-year-old Lacey woman’s purse.
The caller was able to provide a description of Tanner, police said. The caller reported that Tanner fled the scene through the woods toward the Kohl’s parking lot and a witness followed.
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Still attempting to flea the area, Tanner was arrested in the Kohl's parking lot, police said.
The witness who followed Tanner had done so until police arrived, also recovering the stolen purse along the way, police said. The witness reported that while in the ShopRite parking lot with his family, he heard the victim yelling for help.
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Tanner handed the purse to a female bystander and fled the parking lot to the woods once the witness was chasing him, police said. The bystander then handed the purse to the witness as he pursued Tanner, police said.
The purse was returned to the 68-year-old victim, police said.
Tanner was charged with burglary and theft of movable property. He was sent to Ocean County Jail with bail set at $15,000. Tanner was also found to have two outstanding warrants out of Robbinsville and Jackson.
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