Tourist’s daughter holds onto ponytail of 14-year-old thief for nearly an hour in Venice—and it worked
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In one of the busiest tourist spots in Europe, an American visitor found herself caught in a situation that few could imagine.
What began as a quiet walk through crowded streets quickly escalated into a dramatic struggle that drew dozens of onlookers.
The incident revealed not only the persistence of pickpockets in the city but also the determination of a traveler unwilling to let a crime slide. What happened next was captured on video and spread worldwide within hours.
According to her daughter, Christina Cadieu Greene had just arrived in Venice before setting off on a Mediterranean cruise when she realized her bag had been tampered with.
Inside were her passport, credit cards, headphones, and cash, all of which vanished within moments of moving through dense crowds.
Rather than panic, she and her husband tracked the stolen items through her AirPods using Apple’s location tools. That digital trail quickly pointed them back to a group of three teenage girls moving nearby.
Once Greene spotted the trio, she confronted them and grabbed one of the youngest by her ponytail. Witnesses say the girl screamed and struggled, but Greene held her tightly for nearly an hour as crowds gathered to cheer her on.
One girl stayed close by while another fled with the missing purse, leaving the mother determined not to let the situation slip away.
Greene later admitted she acted on pure instinct, saying she wrapped the ponytail around her hand and refused to let go.
Also read: Leaving for vacation? Don’t skip these 4 crucial steps to keep your home safe from burglars!
When police eventually arrived, Greene released the teenager, but the chaos continued. One of the girls swung a cloth bag filled with a metal water bottle at her, striking her head hard enough to cause a deep gash that bled heavily.
Local residents and tourists rushed to help, using whatever they could to clean the injury until officers gained control. Even then, the suspects resisted, kicking and fighting as police attempted to detain them.
Medical staff later treated Greene with adhesive and Steri-Strips to close the wound, though she said the incident left her bruised and shaken.
Her daughter explained that despite the blood loss, her mother stayed focused on getting back her documents.
The stolen purse was later turned in anonymously at an airport liaison office, though $200 in cash and her AirPods were missing. According to reports, the thieves wanted no identification tied to the return.
Both teenage suspects were charged with theft before being released on bail, while the third fled the scene by train. Local media reported that within two days, the minors were already back on the streets of Venice, blending once again into the crowds of tourists.
Also read: This bizarre banana trick didn’t just reveal a thief—it uncovered something bigger
The cycle has fueled concerns about the challenges police face in stopping repeat offenders who often walk free within hours.
For Greene, however, the episode became a reminder of how quickly vigilance and determination can shift the outcome of a crime.
Read next: Former burglar shares the tactics thieves look for when choosing homes, plus the surprising reason not to advertise your dog
Would you have reacted the same way if faced with a pickpocket in a foreign city, or do you think it’s safer to let authorities handle it? Share your perspective in the comments and let’s talk about what travelers can realistically do in these situations.
What began as a quiet walk through crowded streets quickly escalated into a dramatic struggle that drew dozens of onlookers.
The incident revealed not only the persistence of pickpockets in the city but also the determination of a traveler unwilling to let a crime slide. What happened next was captured on video and spread worldwide within hours.
Tourist’s daughter holds onto ponytail of 14-year-old thief for nearly an hour in Venice—and it worked. Image source: Ricardo Gomez Angel / Unsplash
According to her daughter, Christina Cadieu Greene had just arrived in Venice before setting off on a Mediterranean cruise when she realized her bag had been tampered with.
Inside were her passport, credit cards, headphones, and cash, all of which vanished within moments of moving through dense crowds.
Rather than panic, she and her husband tracked the stolen items through her AirPods using Apple’s location tools. That digital trail quickly pointed them back to a group of three teenage girls moving nearby.
Once Greene spotted the trio, she confronted them and grabbed one of the youngest by her ponytail. Witnesses say the girl screamed and struggled, but Greene held her tightly for nearly an hour as crowds gathered to cheer her on.
One girl stayed close by while another fled with the missing purse, leaving the mother determined not to let the situation slip away.
Greene later admitted she acted on pure instinct, saying she wrapped the ponytail around her hand and refused to let go.
Also read: Leaving for vacation? Don’t skip these 4 crucial steps to keep your home safe from burglars!
When police eventually arrived, Greene released the teenager, but the chaos continued. One of the girls swung a cloth bag filled with a metal water bottle at her, striking her head hard enough to cause a deep gash that bled heavily.
Local residents and tourists rushed to help, using whatever they could to clean the injury until officers gained control. Even then, the suspects resisted, kicking and fighting as police attempted to detain them.
Medical staff later treated Greene with adhesive and Steri-Strips to close the wound, though she said the incident left her bruised and shaken.
Her daughter explained that despite the blood loss, her mother stayed focused on getting back her documents.
The stolen purse was later turned in anonymously at an airport liaison office, though $200 in cash and her AirPods were missing. According to reports, the thieves wanted no identification tied to the return.
Both teenage suspects were charged with theft before being released on bail, while the third fled the scene by train. Local media reported that within two days, the minors were already back on the streets of Venice, blending once again into the crowds of tourists.
Also read: This bizarre banana trick didn’t just reveal a thief—it uncovered something bigger
The cycle has fueled concerns about the challenges police face in stopping repeat offenders who often walk free within hours.
For Greene, however, the episode became a reminder of how quickly vigilance and determination can shift the outcome of a crime.
Read next: Former burglar shares the tactics thieves look for when choosing homes, plus the surprising reason not to advertise your dog
