Teen nabs accused purse thief
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com
Anthony Dobbins, 16, bagged more than groceries when he tackled an alleged purse snatcher who tried to make off with the handbag of a female customer at a local grocery store last month.

WELL DONE- Commander Stephen DeCesari, left, and Camarillo Mayor Jan McDonald, right, congratulate Anthony Dobbins, 16, for his help in recovering a stolen purse.

At Wednesday's City Council meeting, the Camarillo City Council awarded Anthony a certificate of appreciation for his help in preventing the theft.

A junior at Adolfo Camarillo High School, Anthony was working as a box boy at the Vons grocery store on Arneill Road in the early evening on June 4 when police said he stopped Eric Martinez, a 19-year-old Oxnard resident, from stealing a purse from one of the store's shoppers.

Anthony said he saw Martinez running down one of the store's aisles as a woman ran behind him shouting that Martinez had stolen her purse.

The 16-year-old said he chased Martinez and caught up with him outside the store as Martinez was getting onto a bike to escape with the purse.

Anthony tackled the wouldbe thief and knocked the purse out of Martinez's hand. Martinez ditched the purse and rode away.

Cmdr. Stephen DeCesari with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department said police identified Martinez- a former store employee- when he was recognized by other Vons employees on video from the store's security cameras.

DeCesari said deputies with the Camarillo Police Department found Martinez was already in custody for a parole violation stemming from an earlier crime committed when he was a minor.

According to DeCesari, Martinez is out on bail. His next court date is pending.

"While we discourage our employees from ever putting themselves in harm's way, we are very happy there was a positive outcome in this instance," store manager Jeff Haddox said. "We would like to thank the city for recognizing Anthony."

Anthony, who has been working at Vons for the past three months to pay off the truck he recently bought, said he stopped Martinez without thinking about the possible consequences.

"It was just impulse," he said.

Later that night, Anthony said he "surprised" his parents when he told them about what had happened.

"They were worried he might have had a knife, but I wasn't thinking about that; I was thinking about the lady and her purse," Anthony said.