PHILADELPHIA _ New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, a world traveler and author.
He's also apparently a thief-nabber.
Kristof was staying in the Franklin Hotel near Independence Hall when he encountered an intruder in his room Saturday morning, chased him, captured him, and then held him until police arrived.
Police spokesman Sgt. Eric Gripp confirmed there was an incident of hotel involving a New York Times reporter. Without naming Kristof, Gripp said by email that the columnist "chased him, struggled with him, and held him until officers arrived."
Police said that about 7:30 a.m., Kristof returned to his hotel room to find a stranger inside. When Kristof confronted the man and tried to detain him, the suspect fought with him, then fled from the room, with Kristof in pursuit. As Kristof was chasing the suspect down the stairs, the suspect threatened to stab Kristof if he didn't stop, police said.
When the two exited onto the lobby level, Kristof and a witness were able to detain the suspect until police arrived.
Police said the suspect tried to steal Kristof's wife's purse, but dropped it during the struggle in the hotel room. Kristof injured his thumb, they said.
The alleged thief, who was taken into custody, lives in Philadelphia. His name was not released.
