Thief Thwarted By Marathon Runner

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Original story: Star Tribune

Marathon runner Mark Laliberte is a local hero at Ginkgo coffee bar in St. Joseph’s. As reported by the Star Tribune, “The 30-year-old medical researcher and marathon runner sprang into action after he noticed two men acting suspiciously around the unattended coffee shop cash register in the St. Joseph Hospital lobby Tuesday afternoon. When he saw the wad of $20 bills concealed under one man’s sweat shirt, Laliberte became a man on a mission that would take a wrestling match and a foot race to resolve.”

My favorite quote from the news story:

That’s right, I’m gaining on you. I’m going to catch you. You might as well stop.

However, local St. Paul police spokesman Peter Panos would rather see “people be good witnesses” adding,

We don’t usually suggest that people chase down suspects.

It’s a hard one to call and probably a split second decision on Laliberte’s part, but would you have chased the thief down and risked injury or possibly something worse? Kathy Sundberg, owner of the coffee bar is definitely grateful though:

We’re in awe, admiration and exuberance. The $350 that was stolen was returned and Laliberte is our hero.

Great story. Society needs more people like Laliberte….