Good Samaritan Tackles Alleged Wallet Snatcher To The Ground At Willowbrook Mall In Wayne: Police

A quick-thinking good Samaritan chased and tackled a would-be wallet thief in the Willowbrook Mall Monday afternoon, Wayne Police said.

The woman reported that a man stole her wallet from her when she took it out of her purse while standing in line at Lord & Taylor at 1:15 p.m., Capt. Laurence Martin said.

The woman chased after the man screaming, “He took my wallet,” police said.

The good Samaritan was in the center of the mall near the escalators and saw the man being chased, police said.

Martin said the good Samaritan chased after the man as well and tackled him to the ground near the restrooms.

Mall security guards arrived and handcuffed the alleged thief, police said. The wallet, and all of its contents, was returned to the woman, who was not harmed.

The alleged thief, Kurtis J. Guthrie, 29 of Paterson, was charged with theft by force, police said. He also had outstanding warrants out for his arrest in Wayne and Paramus and a no-bail warrant from Passaic County authorities.

Guthrie’s bail was set at $20,000 with no 10 percent option.

(Pictured: Kurtis J. Guthrie, 29, of Paterson)