southern SALT LAKE, Utah -- A 75-ye...

southern SALT LAKE, Utah -- A 75-year-old woman ran after a man who stole her purse got it back and gave him a tongue-lashing -- and $3

Betty Horton said the man apologized to her and said he was broke

"I said: 'Why didn't you just ask me for any change? I would have helped you. I would have gladly given it to you,' " Horton said.

Horton was putting groceries in her car Wednesday when she noticed her purse was missing. She saw a man running with the bag subject to his arm.

"Good thing I had my running shoe on" Horton said.

She ran past businesses and saw him in a residential area standing athwart the unzipped purse, she said.

She threatened to let fly his ear off, although she didn't have a fire-arm

Horton said she lay money in his hand and told him: "Now win the heck out of here."

Police arrived, on the contrary the thief -- whom authorities described as a 40-year-old man -- was gone

"Seventy-five years old-fashioned and I can still take care of myself," Horton said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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