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OREM -- An Orem woman came to the rescue Monday as she watched a shoplifter running from a grocery store.
The woman -- all 110 pounds of her -- tackled the teenager until store security could catch up.
Sharee Grazzini, who was with her husband and child in their car, wasn't planning on anything adventurous when she went to the store.
Apparently, neither was the teenager she tackled in a parking lot near the store.
Grazzini was in the parking lot of Maceys at 880 N. State Street in Orem on Monday afternoon -- at the same time a 16-year-old boy shoplifted an energy drink from the store.
He was confronted by store security but pushed an officer and ran.
Grazzini and her husband saw a security officer running and out of breath who said the teen had stolen something. She says they felt bad for the officer and decided to help him out.
Her husband drove through the parking lot. Before he could get out to tackle the teen, she did.
Grazzini said the boy "was pretty stunned and startled once I tackled him. His face was a little bit frightened, wasn't sure what was going on, and then after that the gentleman from Maceys came over and took over."
Police quickly arrived and took the boy into custody on retail theft charges.
Even though the teen was bigger than she was, Grazzini says she wasn't scared and, because he was so young, believed he wasn't armed and she wasn't in any real danger.
"I hope he learns not to steal," Grazzini said. "I also feel bad because it was just a drink, and so hopefully he learns his lesson and asks someone for a couple of dollars, it's not that big of a deal."
When asked if she is involved in martial arts or sports that gave her to the courage to step in, Grazzini said the only real athletic activity she's ever been involved in is dance.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
