Police: N.J. jewelry thief escapes when Good Samaritans accidentally restrain her victim

An alleged jewelry thief escaped after robbing a man early yesterday morning when two Good Samaritans accidentally stopped her victim, believing he was the criminal, according to a report from the Courier News.

Police told the paper that a 21-year old man and a 26-year-old woman driving down West Front Street in Plainfield, N.J. around 12:30 a.m. jumped out of their car and rushed to stop a man that appeared to be assaulting a woman.

Unfortunately, the woman was the criminal – she had just robbed the man of $400 in cash and a gold chain worth $500 – and the motorists’ intervention allowed her to get away, investigators said.

The victim, 26, told police that he was trying to detain the unknown woman who attacked and robbed him as he walked down the street when the passersby restrained him. The woman reportedly used the opportunity to escape, attempting unsuccessfully to hail a taxi before running away. She is still at large.

Police said the victim’s version of events was confirmed by footage from a nearby surveillance camera, but noted the investigation was complicated by the fact that he was intoxicated and spoke little English, according to the paper.