Woman Uses Garden Tool to Foil Scooter Thieves

MELBOURNE, FL -- A man trying to swipe a scooter tangled with the wrong woman on Monday.

50-year-old Melbourne, Florida resident Grace Heuseinkveld stabbed the would-be thief as he was dragging her gas-powered scooter across her driveway.

"I'm proud of her. You have a right to protect your property," husband C.W Heusinkveld said.

Heusinkveld knew all along his wife was tough.

When the thief tried to drag away their scooter, she picked up a heavy, forked weeding tool.

She thrust it into his back so hard he fell over, and she fell on top of him.

"She's probably tougher than I am. I don't want to mess with her, and I'm married to her," Heusinkveld said.

The 74-year-old was asleep when it happened.

He said it was lucky for the thief that he was.

Police came up empty handed when they searched for the thief, but Heusinkveld said he is ready in case he returns.

They never found the gardening tool.

Police think the suspect will eventually show up in a hospital.