A vacation to Venice took a shocking turn for one American tourist — and it was all caught on camera.
A now-viral video shows a U.S. mom of eight grabbing a suspected teenage pickpocket by the ponytail after realizing her purse had been stolen in the middle of one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.
The incident happened last Thursday on a narrow bridge in Venice, Italy. According to her daughter, Karis McElroy, the woman was sightseeing with her husband when a group of girls got too close. A few moments later, her backpack had been unzipped — and her purse was gone.
Inside that purse were credit cards, cash, her passport, and a pair of AirPods. But the story didn’t end there.
Using the “Find My” app to track the AirPods, the couple began following the signal through the crowded city streets. What they found led to a moment no one expected: the woman confronted the suspected pickpockets and grabbed one of the teenage girls by the hair in front of a crowd of stunned bystanders.
“She goes and chases them down, and she grabs one of the girls by her ponytail and does not let go,” Karis explained in a follow-up video on TikTok. “Two of the girls stayed. One of them ran off — with the bag.”
According to Karis, her mom didn’t care about the cash or the AirPods. She just wanted her passport back so she could return home.
As the woman held onto the teen by her hair, the girl screamed. But the mom didn’t flinch.
“I have eight kids, you’re not getting to me,” she told the suspect, according to her daughter.
North Carolina woman yanks the hair of a young pickpocket in Venice, Italy, causing the suspected thief to have a screaming meltdown.
The mother of 8 tracked down the suspect by using the ‘Find My’ app to locate the missing AirPods and her passport.
“I have eight kids, you’re… pic.twitter.com/grIelr9rjj
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 25, 2025
The Airbnb host, who witnessed the chase, confirmed the group was known locally for pickpocketing. He stood with the woman as the police were called.
But the confrontation quickly turned violent.
Just before officers could make the arrest, the girl who ran off returned — and swung the stolen bag, hitting the mom in the head. Inside the bag was a metal water bottle, which left the woman with a bleeding gash and a black eye. She was later treated at a hospital and received stitches.
Despite the injury, the tourist recovered most of her belongings. The girl who had fled was caught trying to board a train to the airport. Inside her luggage, police found the woman’s passport and credit cards. The cash and AirPods were never recovered.
The suspected pickpocket, who was grabbed — only 14 years old — was arrested but released on bail just two days later, according to Italian news outlet Il Messaggero.
Daughter shares the recap of what happened to her mom in Venice, Italy
karismcelroy pic.twitter.com/68uguftJfk
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) August 25, 2025
karismcelroy Karis said her mom is continuing her Mediterranean cruise and staying positive, despite the traumatic event. She also shared that locals in Venice showed kindness during the ordeal, including a nearby shop owner who gifted her mother a necklace.
