LA HABRA >> Police jailed an alleged purse-snatcher Sunday after two good Samaritans pursued the robber and retrieved the 82-year-old victim’s purse, officials said.
Alfredo Lezama, 25, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, La Habra police Lt. Clint Angle said. He had an address listed in Los Angeles, though officials believed him to be transient.
The incident began just before 2 p.m. when a an 82-year-old La Habra woman was walking home from church, Angle said.
A robber, later identified as Lezama, snatched her purse from her at the northeast corner of Beach Boulevard and Lambert Road and ran, the lieutenant said.
“Two witnesses followed the suspect in their vehicle for a short distance,” he said. “The passenger jumped out and body checked the suspect.”
Lezama dropped the purse and continued running, Angle said. “(The witnesses) were able to get the purse back and returned it to the victim.”
The witnesses left before speaking with police, he said.
A second witnesses directed police to the suspect nearby at Beach Boulevard and Toledo Place, police said. Officers arrested Lezama without a struggle.
The elderly victim was unhurt.