SEATTLE – Three thousand dollars in re-election donations got swiped off the street in Seattle when a campaign treasurer dropped his bag to help stop a purse snatcher.

Alex Johnson was leaving dinner in the International District after helping to host a campaign fundraiser when a commotion up the street caught his attention.

“That's when we hear the cries for help,” Johnson said. “We see just a shadowy figure clearly running this direction."

A purse snatcher was barreling down the street with the victim calling out for people to stop him. Johnson dropped his bag just as his uncle lunged to stop the thief. The uncle ended up being knocked into a car instead.

Johnson then turned and chased the thief up the block but couldn't catch up.



“And it kind of dawns on me, wait a second, I don't have my bag with me,” Johnson said.

While Johnson made his way back to the bag another thief took advantage. A security camera shows a person grab the bag – stuffed with $3,000 – and even turn back to snatch the take-out meal Johnson set down as well.

The $3,000 in cash and checks were campaign donations for his aunt, state Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, who early that night had been giving a speech on the need for more public safety measures in the International District.

“I think it just kind of reinforces the need for public safety and highlights what an issue that is," Johnson said.

As for losing all that money for the woman he's trying to help re-elect, he said “I don't regret putting something down to try to help someone else out who was in need, especially in the neighborhood that I live in."