Purse Snatcher Runs Right Through Glass Door -- and It's Caught on Camera

A thief who allegedly grabbed the purse of a 50-year-old woman in Australia had his plans for running away quickly foiled for a moment as he sprinted right through a glass door, knocking himself out. Not knowing the man was a purse snatcher, bystanders even helped him up and he escaped.

The store's surveillance camera caught it all.

(Image: 3News video screenshot)

The incident happened in Perth, according to 3News out of New Zealand. Shop owner Greg Rice too didn't know initially that the person slamming into the glass door was a thief.

"I didn't know what went on, really. I just thought somebody ran into the door, but as it turned out, when I saw how keen he was to get away, we realised something was up," he told 3News.

(Image: 3News video screenshot)

The video shows the alleged thief breaking through the glass door, followed by concerned bystanders trying to help him before an accomplice tried to drag him to a waiting car.

Also caught on the CCTV camera was Jake Adams, owner of a nearby tattoo shop, going after the suspect.

"He said 'I've got a gun, I've got a gun, I'm gonna shoot you, I'm gonna shoot you'," Adams recalled. "So, I picked the guy up [the thief] in front of me, like they do in the movies and held him in front of me."

Adams eventually let the alleged robber go.

Watch the footage in this WPIX report:

Ultimately, the thief and his accomplice escaped in a green Lexus, which 3News reported police saying was also stolen. The men are still at large.

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