Teenage handbag thief outpaced by 72-year-old ex-sprinter »

Posted By JamesMarcus 8 months, 4 weeks ago in News

A teenage thief picked on the wrong victim when she tried to run off with a bag belonging to 72-year-old pensioner Jean Hirst--a former championship sprinter.

The retired teacher had allowed three teenage girls into her car to help her with directions after getting lost on the way to a theater. She was straight out of the starting blocks again, however, when one of them took advantage and tried to make off with her bag.

As Mrs Hirst jumped out of the car and gave chase, she soon began to close on the culprit, who was forced to throw down the bag in her desperation to escape.

Mrs Hirst said: "Suddenly I felt 18 again. The adrenaline just kicked in and I seemed to turn back the years." As a 17-year-old, she was the Nottinghamshire County Schools 100 yards champion and qualified for the final of All England Schools Championship in Ashington.


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JamesMarcus

James Marcus is a writer, translator, critic, and editor. He is the author of Amazonia: Five Years at the Epicenter of the Dot-Com Juggernaut and ...

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    tdrapeau8 months, 4 weeks ago

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    So she drove the 3 friends, one took off with her purse, she ran the girl thief down, came back to the car and the other girls were still sitting in the car? Wow. Great final quote, too.

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      blainegarrett8 months, 3 weeks ago

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      hahah. That's epic.

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        FOURDOGSLAUGHING8 months, 3 weeks ago

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        OLD PPL R TUFF!!

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          FOURDOGSLAUGHING8 months, 3 weeks ago

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          BET THAT SHE WISHS THAT SHE WAS 17 AGAIN!!

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            mamakenn8 months, 3 weeks ago

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            good for her,bet that left the little thief speechless.
            WAY TO GO GRANNY

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              CaptainLucid8 months, 3 weeks ago

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              I love it when this happens. Like when they are a judo or karate expert.

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                skrr1238 months, 3 weeks ago

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                Normally, I would say she should be competing in "Masters" competition....but, I think in this case, it would be unfair!

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                  jackee10548 months, 3 weeks ago

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                  This made me laugh out loud - too bad the woman wasn't able pick up her purse and then beat the **** out of that little bitch a la Ruth Buzzi!!! But then of course the girl's parents would have sued for assault, I'm sure...

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                    jjm827638 months, 3 weeks ago

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                    WAY TO GO GRANNY

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                      ambithy95938 months, 3 weeks ago

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                      This was Great.. WAY TO GO!! Maybe People will think next time they try to mess with an older person.. I am so Glad She wasn't hurt..

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                        FOURDOGSLAUGHING8 months, 3 weeks ago

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                        old news

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                          iipripper0078 months, 3 weeks ago

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                          At a time when our economy is in shambles, kids are being abducted, planes are dropping out of the skies, the news is too depressing anymore. This was a great story...the visual made me chuckle. I'd give anything to meet this grandma and give her a hug, this was one brave and spunky lady. Kudos, Grandma!!

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                            tuttoman28 months, 3 weeks ago

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                            She should have picked up her purse and then continued chasing the thief to woop her ass!!!!!

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                              ldsstreamline8 months, 3 weeks ago

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                              I cant wait till the day I read the story of the gun toatin granny will blow the head off of one of these punks...now that will be hilarious....say hello to my Colt 45!!!LOL

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                                ldsstreamline8 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                I can't wait until the day comes along and I read the story of some gun toatin Granny that blows the face off of one of these rotten punks!!!.....Say hello to Granny's Colt 45!!!!

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                                  delatigre8 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                  Gp granny go

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                                    ssm8228 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                    Hey, it's not how old you are, but how you are old....age in many cases is just a state of mind... :)

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                                      luddenlax248 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                      way 2 go but who ever stole that bag has been watchin tv an hangin out on myspace 2 long u got run down by a 72 year old an u had ahead start

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                                        teddybears3288 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                        Good for her. It's about time someone caught some of these thieves. I just caught one of my son's friends take $40.00 from me. He's not allowed back here.

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                                          yoopersue8 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                          She (and all the rest of us) probably should not have let three teen-agers in the car with her. You can ask directions with the window rolled down. Better yet, get a GPS.

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                                            sguedj8 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                            too awesome! i want to be just like her when i get to be 72! yay for grandma!!

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                                              tkdcorey128 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                              I love it when old timers pwn people.

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                                                tkdcorey128 months, 3 weeks ago

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                                                I love it when old timers pwn people.

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