Quincy men praised for trying to stop mugger

QUINCY, Mass. (WHDH) -- A woman was mugged right in the middle of the afternoon on Hancock Street in Quincy on Wednesday.

The thieves did get away, but everyone is praising the two men who tried to stop them.

Jason Murray of Quincy said he and his friend had just finished working around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon and were standing around talking on Hancock Street when suddenly they heard screaming.

A man had just ripped an expensive necklace off a 66-year-old woman and then ran to his accomplice who was waiting in a getaway car. Murray said there were many people around, but no one did anything. So he and his friend took off after the thieves.

“He saw my fat behind chasing him, and he got scared and started running faster. He dove into his friends car and I grabbed him by his belt buckle, trying to pull him, and so his friend pulled him in closer and took off,” said Murray.

Murray was surprised no one else got involved.

“There was a lot of people standing over watching this lady, and did nothing about it. It just amazes me.”

The victim said the necklace was worth around $2,000.

Amy Rong acted as interpreter for the victim, who spoke no English. She and others had nothing but praise for Murray and his friend, “They did good. They did a good job.”

Quincy Police had nothing but praise for Murray and his friend.

Captain John Dougan said, “It’s nice to know that people will get involved to help their fellow person.”

When asked what was going through his mind when he went after the muggers, Murray said, “It was an old lady. It was an old lady. Can't let that happen. I don't care who you are. You can't rob old people. You shouldn't even be robbing. Get a job."

“I guess they’re taught that nobody was going to chase them down or something, but they got caught on the wrong block,” said Murray.

Murray said he would hope that if someone in his family were hurt, somebody would come to their rescue.

Police are looking for the two suspects, young men, who got away in a blue Subaru.