Video Shows Woman Snatching Pickpocket’s Ponytail

A woman and mother of eight confronted her Venice pickpocket in a very aggresive way, according to an extensive recap posted on TikTok by her daughter.

Posted by @karismcelroy last Wednesday, the video shows the woman grabbing the hair of pickpocket, who allegedly stole her purse and passport.

“my mom caught the girl who stole her purse and turned her in to police lol,” reads the caption.

As the New York Post points out, the woman used the “Find My Friends” AirPods feature to track down the teen pickpocket.

“Her and my stepdad immediately started tracking her purse through her AirPods on Find My Friends, and they were able to track it down back to those three girls,” McElroy said in one of the videos recounting the incident.

Commenters praised the woman for not letting the pickpocket get away, while McElroy confirmed that her mom got her purse back.

The younger McElroy posted another TikTok from the aftermath, with a text from her mom saying that the purse was stolen out of her “zipped up book bag.”

“We have spent all afternoon dealing with this,” the message continued. “Fortunately someone found it and turned it in to the U.S. liason at the airport.”

The post continues with a longer version of the aforementioned TikTok, showing the woman shout at the pickpocket. “You stole my purse with my passport in it!” the woman said, to which the thief screamed. “Little girl, I have eight kids, you’re not getting to me,” the mother continued.

McElroy aposted a third TikTok, where she further explained the incident.

The thief appeared defeated and told the woman to “calm down” while the authorities were contacted. “That’s right, let’s get the police,” the woman said. “And maybe I’ll get my passport back.”

Pickpockets often target vulnerable tourists, especially those who are distracted and mainly in crowded areas. To have a greater chance of avoiding theft while traveling, it’s advised to wear a fanny pack or money belt and be cautious of your surroundings.