Good Samaritan helps woman after purse snatching

Dayton's WDTN.com is reporting that a Kettering woman was the victim of a purse snatching Monday evening, but that things turned out OK after a few quick-thinking citizens chased down the crooks.

From the story:

It all happened Monday night around seven in the Meijer’s parking lot at Stroop and Wilmington. The thieves grabbed the woman’s purse and then ran over toward the McDonald’s on Stroop.

But thanks to another shopper the woman actually got her purse back and police caught two suspects.
18 year old Christopher Mantel was booked into jail on one count of theft and 20 year old Jonathan Vance was charged with helping him. He also had a felony warrant for an unrelated burglary.

Kettering police say the woman was in Meijer’s parking lot and put her handbag into the shopping cart when she was walking out to her car. That’s when two men ran up. They grabbed the purse from her and ran towards McDonald’s on Stroop. The woman screamed and that’s when another shopper stopped his car. He chased down the thieves causing them to drop the purse. Police later got descriptions of the suspects and then caught them in a nearby apartment complex all thanks to this witness who did a good deed.

“I think people are generally getting sick of crime. And I think most people are good hearted and good natured that they want to help somebody or especially a woman in trouble,” said Glenn Evans with the Kettering Police Department.

Commentary from Senate District 10 Coordinator Larry S. Moore:
Yes, people are getting sick of crime and of being made victims. That is one reason why OhioCCW was passed. Thankfully the men who chased the suspects were not harmed - thankfully the suspects were not armed. Next time they might not be so lucky.

Kettering has long been billed has the "good schools, good community" city just south of Dayton. And it is a good community. However, this story continues to highlight the "need" to be vigilant and armed in our daily travels.

We continue to see stories regarding concealed carry in the news with quotes indicating something to the effect that "people just want to obtain the concealed handgun in case they feel the need or want to someday". The problem with this logic has always been - when the need is felt the gun will be at home and not with you. I hope I never "feel the need" to carry my gun because that means something truly bad is happening to me. Everyone feels safe - until that fateful moment when they realize they are becoming a victim. If they have not prepared ahead of time for that, then the only thing to do is run and scream - and pray for the best.

My Grandmother was tough with a hoe, axe, and could use a .22 rifle on groundhogs. I believe the modern urban woman has lost that tough independence and regressed as a result. Women need to become truly liberated and empowered by getting their CHL and ending their reliance on the goodness of men for their defense.

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