UNION CITY (BCN)– A witness tackled an alleged pickpocket fleeing a Safeway store in Union City on Wednesday evening, according to police.
Officers responded to reports of a customer being held down and assaulted outside the Safeway store at 1790 Decoto Road at 6:03 p.m., police said.
But when they arrived, officers learned the man being held down was in fact a robbery suspect who had allegedly stolen a wallet from and assaulted another customer in the store, police said.
The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Theodore Levy, allegedly stole the wallet from an 85-year-old man while he was shopping. The victim noticed the theft and tried to get his wallet back, but Levy allegedly fought back and the two got into a fight, police said.
A witness tried to intervene and Levy ran from the store, but was tackled by another witness outside, police said.
Police arrested Levy and booked him into jail on suspicion of robbery and battery of an elderly person.
The robbery victim suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, police said.