A quick-thinking shopper and good Samaritans stopped a would-be robber outside a Super Target in Canton on Monday.
Suspect Daniel Edward Thomason, 47, of Acworth was arrested outside the store in the 2000 block of Cumming Highway.
Canton police said Thomason approached a woman returning to her vehicle, placed an object to her back and tried to push her inside the vehicle. She fought him off, but he allegedly grabbed her purse and entered the vehicle, closing the door behind him.
As he sat in the vehicle going through her purse, the woman, who still had her car keys, pushed the panic button and locked the suspect inside, police said. She screamed for help, and help arrived.
A man pulling into the parking lot assisted the woman, while other witnesses called 911, police said. The man got the suspect out of the vehicle, questioned him and held him on the scene.
Police arrived just before 11 a.m. and took the suspect into custody without incident.
Thomason is charged with robbery by sudden snatch, entering auto and simple battery. He was taken to the Cherokee County Jail. Additional charges are possible, Det. Candy Worthy said.
The woman suffered minor injuries and bruises to her arm, police said.
According to Georgia Department of Corrections records, Thomason has been in state prison five times and his last release date was July 22.
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