Thief Attempts Purse Snatch, Caught in Stop & Shop

Margaret Smith was standing in the fruit aisle at Stop & Shop just after 1 p.m. Sunday, when a man took her purse out of her shopping cart.

Smith, a North Bellmore resident, had her back turned while she looked for fruit, but Maureen Pizzaruso, also of North Bellmore, spotted the man and screamed out for help.

"I was just trying to get some green bananas, and the woman standing next to me saw him slip the pocket book under his jacket," Smith said.

"I saw him take the bag out of the cart and start walking away," Pizzaruso said. “So I yelled out, "Stop that man!"

While the man, a caucasian with a goatee, got out of the fruit aisle, an undercover federal officer took him down before he was able to leave the store. Police were called, and he was taken into custody.

"I’m so grateful,” Smith added. "I feel showered with love."

Editor's Note: This article was written at 1:55 p.m. and was last updated at 8:36 p.m.