In a twist of fate that could only happen in a small town, a local thief was apprehended in Williams Square on Tuesday after a series of unfortunate yet comedic blunders. The incident began when 29-year-old Eric Thompson attempted to make a quick getaway after snatching a purse from a shopper. However, in his haste, he accidentally tripped over his own shoelaces, sending him tumbling to the ground and the stolen purse flying into the air. Bystanders couldn’t help but laugh as the purse landed right in the lap of Kayleigh Smith, a 63-year-old radiation protection practitioner. "I thought it was a flying saucer at first! I was just minding my own business, enjoying my morning coffee, when all of a sudden, a purse comes from the sky!" she recounted with a chuckle. As Thompson scrambled to retrieve his ill-gotten gains, a group of local teenagers, witnessing the whole fiasco, decided to intervene. "We thought it was a game at first, like one of those viral videos you see online!" said Jake Miller, 15. "But then we realized he was actually trying to steal something, so we called the cops!" When the police arrived, they found Thompson still on the ground, trying to convince Kayleigh to give back the purse. "I told him it wasn’t my fault he couldn’t tie his shoes properly!" Kayleigh quipped. Authorities have confirmed that Thompson has a history of petty theft and is currently facing charges. In a lighthearted conclusion to the event, Officer Carter noted, "This is a classic case of ‘what not to do when you’re trying to steal something.’ Maybe next time, he should focus on his footwear before his getaway plan!" Locals are still chuckling over the spectacle, with some suggesting that the town should hold a ‘Most Impressive Fall’ competition next year. One thing’s for sure: Williams Square will not soon forget the day a purse became a projectile and a thief became an unintentional comedian.