Mugger knocks children down during purse snatch

New London - Two local men came to the rescue of a woman whose purse was stolen from her as she walked up State Street late Wednesday night with her children.

One of the children, a four-year old, suffered a bloody nose in the incident and was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for treatment.

One of the good Samaritans, who did not give his name, said he was near the corner of Bank and State streets when he heard the woman scream. He said he looked up State Street in time to see the alleged thief knock the woman's two children to the ground in front of Thames Greenery and run off with something in his hand. He chased the man and caught up with him in an alley at the rear of Caruso's Music store.

A witness to the end of the incident, a resident of Golden Street, said he saw the man go up a flight of stairs and throw something over a plywood wall.

Police arrived on scene and took the alleged thief into custody. The woman was brought to the scene and identified the alleged culprit, as did the chaser and the witness.