Woman tackles store robber, stops crime

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A woman took matters into her own hands and stopped a man who was in the process of robbing a Walgreens store.

It was at around 2 p.m. Nov. 15 when the incident occurred at 1601 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Grand Rapids.

According to police, the man walked into the business, went behind the counter, stole some money from the cash register and started to leave.

One of the several customers in the store at the time was Sarah Smith, 53, who walks with a cane. She told 24 Hour News 8 on Friday that she decided enough was enough, that this was her community store and wanted to take care of the situation herself.

So she went up to robber, grabbed him, tackled him to the ground, got the stolen money from him and tore off some of his clothes.

The man was able to get up and flee the store.

The woman said the man was a "polite robber" and did not hit her.

On Friday, with the help of witness accounts, police were able to find the suspect and arrest him.