Off-Duty Duxbury Officer Foils Hingham Purse Snatching Attempt

Off-duty Duxbury Police Officer Mike Bolze and his wife were having dinner last Friday evening at the Plaza Azteca restaurant in Hingham when Bolze observed a suspicious male approach a nearby table occupied by a small group of women. Bolze then observed the man walk up and remove one of the woman's purses from a jacket pocket as the coat was draped over the victim's chair.

The man then fled the establishment quickly and Bolze immediately took action and pursued the man to the parking lot, identifying himself as a police officer. After a brief foot chase the man ran to an awaiting vehicle where he jumped onto the passenger seat as the vehicle fled the scene erratically, almost striking several pedestrians in the lot. As the man fled, he discarded the purse. Bolze recovered the purse and quickly returned it to the victim to the applause of the patrons in the establishment. All of the victim's belongings were accounted for.

Hingham Police units arrived on scene to investigate further. The suspects fled the area in a late model black Cadillac Escalade. Bolze was able to provide a registration plate number, which came back as a rental vehicle. Hingham Police detectives continue to investigate.