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Okla. woman chases burglars in power chair

The woman gave chase in her chair after she saw 5 people removing a TV from a home

Sarah Stewart
NBC - 4 KFOR

OKLAHOMA CITY — Margaret McDonald routinely travels her neighborhood in her power chair.

It can get going up to 4.2 miles an hour.

Not super fast, but on Sunday, it was enough to help police track down some burglars.

“I seen them coming out of the window and I thought, that’s strange if they’re carrying a big TV out the window,” McDonald said. “I thought they lived there at first.”

But McDonald quickly realized she’d interrupted a burglary in progress on the 1500 block of S.W. 77th Terrace.

She said when the five suspects spotted her, they scattered and ran.

“I hollered, ‘Stop thieves!’ Like that,” she said. “And that one went running down the road, so I followed him.”

She chased the suspect until he jumped a fence.

Once police arrived on scene, she was able to point them in the right direction and positively identify two of the burglars after police caught them.

“You know, I’m glad I could help them out a little bit,” McDonald said.

“We never recommend that people try and follow suspects,” OKC Police Lt. Jeff Lathan said. “In this case, it worked out well and we’re thankful for it.”

McDonald said she never felt like she was in any danger.

“No, good Lord was on my side,” she said.

While she’s not your typical crime fighter, police are glad she was in the right place at the right time.

“Very gutsy lady; she did a great job,” Lt. Lathan said.

Police arrested 20-year-old Rex Young, Jr.

The other suspect they arrested was a juvenile.

Police weren’t able to track down the other three suspects.

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