The 83 year old grabbed the would-be robber and, with the help of two bystanders, held her until Tarpon Springs police arrived.

TARPON SPRINGS – An 83-year-old woman and two bystanders prevented a would-be robber from stealing the woman’s purse, according to the Tarpon Springs Police Department.

Jennifer Denise Kearin, 31, of Hudson, was charged with one count each of armed robbery and violation of probation from a previous fraud charge. The 83-year-old woman was not injured.

Police said they were called to Bank of America, 910 E Tarpon Ave., about 9:27 a.m. Monday (Nov. 6). When they arrived, they found a group of people gathered around Kearin’s car and an 83-year-old woman holding onto Kearin’s shirt.

Officers were told that the senior woman had just left the bank and was standing next to her vehicle in the bank parking lot when a white, 1989 Chrysler New Yorker pulled behind the woman’s vehicle. Kearin got out of the Chrysler and demanded the woman’s money.

The woman, who had already put her purse in her vehicle, at first refused Kearin’s demand. Kearin then told her that she had a firearm in her car and threatened that she would get the weapon if the woman didn’t give her the money.

Kearin got into the woman’s vehicle, took the purse and began to walk back to her Chrysler. Police said the woman resisted Kearin and took hold of her to prevent her from leaving with her purse.

At that point, two other people saw what was happening and parked their vehicles behind Kearin’s car to prevent her from leaving. Police said Kearin got back in her car with the purse, but was unable to leave because she was blocked in by the other vehicles.

For information about the Tarpon Springs police, go to tspd.us.

Tarpon Springs Police | Crime | Robbery | Arrests | Good Samaritans | Tampabay News

#TarponSpringsPolice #Crime #Robbery #Arrests #GoodSamaritans #TampabayNews