Newspaper columnist reports fighting off thief in hotel room

PHILADELPHIA – New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof fought with and restrained a burglary suspect he found in his Philadelphia hotel room who tried to steal his wife’s purse.

Kristof said on Twitter there had been “big excitement” when he “interrupted an intruder” in his room Saturday morning at the Franklin Hotel near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The suspect was restrained after a chase and a fight.

A police spokesman said the 58-year-old suspect threatened to stab Kristof but the columnist chased him to the lobby level and he and a witness were able to detain him until officers arrived.

Kristof said in another message that he had a wrenched thumb from the fight but was “otherwise OK.” He said “fortunately, he was a wimpish thief.”