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Subscribe to RSSA man, disgusted by the crime he witnessed, teams up with the 90-year-old victim to chase down the man who mugged her. KNTV's Jodi Hernandez reports.
An elderly woman in California teamed up with a Good Samaritan Monday to track down and nab her alleged mugger.
The 90-year-old woman stopped at an Oakland, Calif., gas station to ask for directions when a man outside the store attacked her on her way in.
“I just thought it was the most horrible crime,” witness Robb Revelli told NBC Bay Area.
Store surveillance cameras captured the attack and showed the man tackling and robbing the five-foot-tall, 88-pound woman before fleeing the scene on foot.
Revelli, who had gone into the store to buy a drink, helped the unnamed victim collect her credit cards after he noticed the attack outside and then stepped into action.
“I asked her if she wanted to go to the hospital or chase this guy, and she wanted to chase him, so if she was down, I was down to go get him. And we did.”
The two jumped into woman’s car and caught up to the man. Revelli got out and grabbed him as the woman called 911 from the car.
“[I] started jumping fences after him and caught him and got him in a headlock and held him there for the police,” Revelli said. “[The woman] was my partner; she was really into the chase with me. She was not scared at all.”
When police arrived, they arrested the suspect, who is currently behind bars facing robbery charges.
“What I really appreciate is the citizen coming to the aid of the 90-year-old lady for her safety,” Doug Keely of the Oakland Police Department told NBC Bay Area. “We are concerned when you’re chasing suspects into backyards and things like that. We really want you to be safe.”
“It’s not a great neighborhood, but if people just chipped in a little bit, it’d be so much easier to catch all the violence in my neighborhood right now,” Revelli said.
The victim is at home in California’s Central Valley with a severely bruised hip, but she said she’s incredibly grateful Revelli was there to help.
“He’s an excellent, wonderful fellow,” she told NBC Bay Area. “I hope God protects him and blesses him for the rest of his life.”
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We need more people like this man. Bravo sir!!!!
I loved how the young man jumped into action to save Grandma.
If it wasn't for him, the thug would have gotten away.
It would be nice to see a follow up with them getting to see each other again.
Break both this dingleberry's arms and legs inadvertently while subduing him, then let the police have him. Punishment served and well deserved instantly then comes jail time.
Absolutely, anyone who mugs the elderly should have to make a detour to the ER on his way to jail. That's what they get for "resisting arrest."
Must have been an Obozo voter
I doubt he votes.
Another black criminal, 13% of the population and responsible for 51% of the homicides nationally. But it's always someone else's fault. When will this segment of our population, and their gun totin' gangstas, baby daddys, and baby mamas own up to their uselessness? I feel sorry for the hard working black folks.
Yeah, what he said!
This is front page "national news" yet MSN has not a word about the Holder contempt charges????
She's 90 and still drives?
Right on Revelli. A job well done for helping out this poor older woman. What a pussss that dude is that robbed this woman. What a pusssssy. If I caught up to him, I think I would of beat his azzzzzz for this stupid wusssy move hid did to rob an elderly.
Glad to see tht someone was willing to help the lady. Most people do not want to get involved even to help describe the crook or help the lady pick herself up.
Just for the record, most people who commit crimes do the crime with the expectation of not getting caught, so glad to see that this crook was caught.
My apprentice used to cop his dope in that neighborhood. He's a big black kid and yet he was mugged for his dope money twice by armed punks. Luckily I believe this caused him to see the light and go straight, life's funny that way.
Good for helping Grandma. I do think if it was me, the guy would have gone to the hospital for awhile after "tripping and falling down", before going to jail.
AWESOME!!!,would someone please by her a spy cane,you know the kind with a gun or deadly serin dart in it,oh yeah and give her a conceal and carry permit.The other solution is,many gas/convienance stores are married with police substations in the back, cops "socializing" in the front by the coffee.
We need more citizens like Robb Revelli.
It is disappointing that so many other people saw the same thing and did nothing.
What a class act this guy was. He doesn't play the macho hero - he shares the glory with her.
And you can tell he loves his neighborhood,it may not be a great neighborhood,but with everyone pitching in to help it won't stay a bad one.
Hero to me.
But the assailant will sue the hero for assault and sue the old Lady for aiding him. He will sue the property owner of the yard he got caught in for having a fence that is too high for him to jump. The property owner will have to counter sue everyone else including MSNBC for violating his privacy. The gas station owner will be sued by the old lady because the sidewalk in front of his store was to hard to fall on and unsafe. The other patrons of the store will sue everyone involved because of post traumatic stress disorder caused by witnessing such a horrible and vicious crime. etc.etc.etc. Welcome to California Nana.
Did they just show video of an African American committing a crime? I thought that was illegal.
I think it 'twas an illegal, myself. The bros were just watching, innocent bystanders. Based on the face, hair style and clothes...
The thief looks dark-skinned!
Tip of the hat to you Mr.Revelli....
Retired SFC -2541031 hit it right on the nose. I used to live in California, (El Cajon) and had a friend that was 79 years old. Some SOB broke into his home, (mobile home), at about noon one day and Bill had a double-barrel 12G shotgun. Bill proceeded to literally blow the bastard through the side of the home. Unfortunately, as SFC and others have pointed out, that old man came very, very close to going to prison over protecting his property.
Apparently the law says if such a thing occurs, you are to escape YOUR OWN PROPERTY, proceed to ? and call the cops.
just this ole sergeant's disgust@#$%^&
SSG (old sarge) -
Your tale is the reason that I am so glad to see the "castle laws" being enacted. Though they are widely decried by the anti-gun crowd, they are a large step toward common sense and just plain survival.
The idea that your first duty is to escape (you're right - to where?) is ridiculous. In many states, police will tell you that if you "blow them out the door," you need to drag them inside. There is a turning tide in this country over self-protection, and about time!
I hope his jailers tell everyone that a cracker and a granny brought him down, now it's their turn, have fun boy's lights out.
sweeeeet
I'm in love with Rob...just a little bit. What a great guy!
I also wanted to say that deadly force in these situations is NOT the way to go. We recently had a clerk shot and killed in a robbery--not by the people robbing the place, but by a gun-toting customer trying to be a hero. Unless your life is directly in danger, PLEASE DO NOT PULL YOUR GUN.
Robb YOU are a HERO!!! Got that piece of poop!!!! I sure hope the elderly woman will be ok! Must of been very scarey for her.
The assailant is NOT a thief, he's an involuntary purse-carrier!
Get the language straight, so it's not so hateful and racist. Just like undocumented Americans.
Chesty -
not bad. How about "underpriveleged, misunderstood victim of our heartless society?" PC can be so much fun.
"We're depraved on account of we're deprived!" - from the old Broadway play, 'Westside Story."
this dumbass hoodlum should be publicly beaten-- too bad those days are over.. not hes just going to get raped in jail where he will make new friends and learn new trades... public hazing would be so appropriate in this case-- a little bit of pain and humiliation.. too bad
MSNBC must have a different definition than I have as to what the word "chase" means. I am glad they caught this hooligan, but in no way did she "chase" her accuser. Let's cut back on hyperbole a bit, shall we?