He just wanted a haircut — but ended up catching a thief.
NYPD Detective Ralph Gaglioti, 54, was off duty and about to get a haircut in Brooklyn at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when he spotted three or four people, including a 72-year-old woman, running down the street.
Ralph GagliotiDCPI“As I followed her, I realized a young lady had stolen her purse,” said Gaglioti, an 18-year NYPD veteran and a mechanic in the Aviation Unit.
“It took a couple of seconds to click in,” he said.
He joined in the chase after suspect Astarra Herbert as the others fell behind, cops said. Gaglioti caught up to her after about a block, when she tried to hide behind a flatbed truck.
There was a bit of a scuffle, cops said.
“When I grabbed her and identified myself, she got a little jittery,” Gaglioti said.
“I said, ‘Look, I’m a police officer. That’s it,’ ” the officer recalled.
The victim had put the bag next to her on a bench in front of 2327 McDonald Ave. in Gravesend. That’s when Herbert snatched it and took off, cops said.
Herbert has 15 prior arrests, including for burglary, prostitution and possession of stolen property. She was arrested 13 times last year, police said.
She’s facing charges of grand larceny and possession of stolen property.
