Christmas money returned to woman after purse snatching

This woman has her purse back, and $250 in Christmas money, thanks to witnesses and fast moving officers with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

The victim called police Sunday, December 12 around 1:00 pm to report that a man grabbed her purse while she was sitting on a bus bench near Pacific and Beach Street, according to the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Witnesses called 911 and took pictures of the suspect as he ran away. According to SCPD, officers set up a perimeter and found the suspect, identified as Anthony Rodriguez, 40, from Watsonville. The Christmas cash was found in his pants, according to a SCPD blog post.

Officers arrested Rodriquez for grand theft. He went to jail.