To one purse-snatcher, New Jersey looked like freedom. Photo by Bette Kerr.
A purse thief figured he could shake the cops by making a run…er, swim… for it. But his plunge into the Hudson River ended with him back on shore in handcuffs shortly after midnight on Monday.
Too bad for him that police officers can swim too, and the thief was apparently no Michael Phelps.
“Cops spotted the water-bound bandit after he grabbed the bag on W. 88th St. and Riverside Drive and gave chase just after midnight,” the Daily News reported.
“When the robber got into the river and started floating downstream, cops from the Emergency Services and Harbor Units dove from the shoreline of the W. 79th St. Boat Basin and swam after him, officials said.”
The man, whose name was not immediately released, was grabbed by the officers in the water and taken to St. Luke’s Hospital as a precautionary measure.
This is hilarious.
I am ashamed to say that even before I read your comment, I had the same reaction:)
Was the purse found?
Nice going cops! Really above and beyond for a purse snatch!
I agree!
So cool!
Nothing makes me happier than hearing stories about stupid criminals
Re: “When the robber … started floating downstream, cops … dove from the shoreline … and swam after him”
Wow! Imagine what Mel Brooks could do with this material!
It could be even better than the great Hasidic Synchronized Swimming scene in the “Inquisition” segment of “History of the World – Part 1″(from whence came:”See if you can Tor-quem-out-of it”)
Thanks for that! II will Have to watch it again:)
If most of these perps were not stupid we’d all be in trouble.
A) I should not be laughing
B) To think I was nervous being in Riverside at 9:00 PM!! You’d have to drag me there kicking and screaming at midnight!!!