Local

Woman fights back against laptop thief

ATLANTA — An Atlanta woman says she fought back after a thief stole her laptop off her front porch right in front of her.

Barbara Morris told Channel 2's Liz Artz she watched a man walk through her gate in her Inman Park neighborhood, bend over and snatch her laptop from her porch.

Morris said she first yelled at the man, but when he did not stop, she grabbed his shirt and tried to stop him. The grandmother and retired schoolteacher told Artz she ripped the man's shirt and was scratched and bruised in the scuffle.

Morris' husband chased after the man while a neighbor called police. Erin Yorker was driving on Euclid Avenue, witnessed the scuffle and followed the man and another man to a van parked nearby.

Morris said Yorker crashed her car into the van, blocking the suspects from leaving. She said the thief gave the computer back to her husband, saying, "You can have this."

Morris said she felt violated, but said her fight was worth it. She called her own actions and those of her neighbors brave.

Police are still looking for the men, one of whom sped off in a white GMC SUV and the other who got away on foot.

Police said this sort of crime of opportunity is common, but typically seen in restaurants.