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Police tell woman who had bag snatched 'sorry, that's not a crime'
London Daily Telegraph ^ | Sept 14, 2007 | DancesWithCats

Posted on 09/14/2007 4:59:34 PM PDT by DancesWithCats

by ANDY DOLAN - More by this author » Last updated at 23:25pm on 14th September 2007

Catch A Thief: Sam McAlister tracked down the thief who snatched her bag

A mother who had her bag snatched was told by police it was not a crime - because she chased after the thief and won her property back.

Sam McAlister was queueing in a coffee shop with her ten-month-old son when a woman grabbed the bag from the back of the pushchair as an accomplice distracted her.

Miss McAlister, 34, left her child with staff at the Starbucks cafe, whom she knew well, and set off in pursuit of the woman.

She confronted the thief in a nearby shop and was eventually reunited with her bag after a struggle.

But when she went to a police station to report the crime, she was told by an officer behind the desk that it was not a crime because she had got the bag back.

It was only when the former criminal barrister used her knowledge of the law that the case was passed on to a senior officer who decided to investigate.

Miss McAlister, now a radio producer, said: "The woman was dressed in a way that made her very easy to spot.

"I spotted her about four shops away with a backpack, and I thought 'I'm not having this'.

"She was about 6ft tall, but I thought it was worth a try, so I ran over to her.

"I grabbed her backpack and shouted at her 'You've got my bag'. We were struggling and grappling, I was yelling 'Give me my bag' for dear life."

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: crime; handbag; police; snatch
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It's a good thing Miss McAlister knew her stuff and stuck to her guns! Can you imagine if they'd picked on someone much less savvy and certainly not nearly as plucky!? Some poor grey-haired old pensioner as they say ... be lucky if someone wasn't hurt ...
1 posted on 09/14/2007 4:59:36 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: DancesWithCats
Doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous! Maybe if she'd have gotten a fella at the desk instead of a disinterested female cop?

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

2 posted on 09/14/2007 5:02:53 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: DancesWithCats

Interesting than no description of any kind - of the perp — except it was a woman 6 feet tall.


3 posted on 09/14/2007 5:14:25 PM PDT by river rat (Semper Fi - You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: DancesWithCats

Wow! Looks like “Wonder Woman”! And very healthy!


4 posted on 09/14/2007 5:14:41 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: DancesWithCats
But when she went to a police station to report the crime, she was told by an officer behind the desk that it was not a crime because she had got the bag back.

The first British "Chief Wiggum Award" winner.


5 posted on 09/14/2007 5:15:38 PM PDT by Maceman
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To: DancesWithCats
My ancestors knew it was a failing empire back in the 1620's and got out. Don't know what happened to that "early adopter" trait over the centuries, though.

Not a crime since she recovered her own property? I'm surprised they didn't charge the victim with theft since she took the bag from the person holding it. That lunacy is probably not too far into the future, given the way Britian is devolving.

6 posted on 09/14/2007 5:16:11 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: Red_Devil 232

Doesn’t she though! LOL She seems quite formidable!


7 posted on 09/14/2007 5:35:21 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: Maceman

Inspector Fowler ...


8 posted on 09/14/2007 5:38:07 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: DancesWithCats

When I saw her picture I tought she was the actress in the new show I have been following, “Burn Notice”! LOL


9 posted on 09/14/2007 5:41:55 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Red_Devil 232
Sorry for not posting a picture. The actress on Burn Notice is Fiona Glenanne.


10 posted on 09/14/2007 5:50:26 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Red_Devil 232

There is a similarity! Is that a good series?


11 posted on 09/14/2007 5:50:58 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: DancesWithCats
It is fun to watch! Kinda like watching the “Dukes Of Hazard” in away, but set in Miami. Just my opinion.
12 posted on 09/14/2007 5:57:35 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: DancesWithCats
gorgeous!

Gorgeous? She looks like Charlie Sheen in drag!!

13 posted on 09/14/2007 6:07:21 PM PDT by A_Tradition_Continues (THE NEXT GENERATION CONSERVATIVE)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I meant to catch it from the beginning and lost tract of the time when it premiered. Having the kitchen redone and it’s been ‘a right mess’! LOL


14 posted on 09/14/2007 6:24:35 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: DancesWithCats

It is on the same channel as “Monk”, but on Thur. nights, and it seems to have the same type of strange “split season” as “Monk”


15 posted on 09/14/2007 6:36:50 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Red_Devil 232

She looks like she’s about 16 years old. Cute. But very very young.


16 posted on 09/14/2007 6:38:52 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: Red_Devil 232

I’ll have to set the DVR to catch it! Did I miss any important plot developments or are they all able to be watched independently?


17 posted on 09/14/2007 6:39:44 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: Red_Devil 232
Ah ha! Found all sorts of info ...

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/theshow/overview.html

18 posted on 09/14/2007 6:41:21 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
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To: DancesWithCats

Don’t forget that damn good Roger Ring.


19 posted on 09/14/2007 6:50:55 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: DancesWithCats

Each week is a new plot and show ... unless it is a rerun.


20 posted on 09/14/2007 7:02:32 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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