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Good Samaritans stop purse-snatcher
Carl Cooper faces unarmed robbery charge
Updated: Friday, 01 Mar 2013, 11:49 PM EST
Published : Friday, 01 Mar 2013, 4:09 PM EST
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - Wyoming police say they were able to arrest a suspect shortly after an elderly woman's purse was snatched in a grocery store parking lot because of the help of some Good Samaritans.
Carl Celester Cooper, 51, was arraigned Friday on one count of unarmed robbery as well as being a habitual offender.
The purse-snatching happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Big Top Market in Wyoming. The victim told police that a man grabbed her purse and then took off toward 36th Street and Clyde Park Avenue.
Other shoppers saw it happen and two men went after the suspect. A Wyoming fire truck was also in the area and two firefighters jumped in to help.
"One of the witnesses actually tackled the suspect to the ground and another person jumped on and held onto him until police could come," Wyoming Police Capt. Kim Koster told 24 Hour News 8.
Cooper, of Grand Rapids, is being held on $50,000 cash or surety bond pending a preliminary hearing.
Police are working to determine if he is connected to a Tuesday purse-snatching at a different grocery store parking lot.
Police say it's best to keep your purse as close to your body as you can, and to put it in your car when stowing groceries. They also advise keeping money or credit cards in a pocket instead of your purse.
"The most important thing is not to struggle with them. If they are going to take your purse, it's not worth getting injured over," said Capt. Koster.
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