Kalispell Police Thursday honored a quick-thinking and heroic box boy who recovered a woman's purse after an alleged snatching.

Mark Macy, 19, was working at Smith's Wednesday evening.

Police Chief Frank Garner said a couple in their 60s was shopping when a teenager grabbed the woman's purse from their shopping cart, pushed past her husband and ran.

"The box boy sees the confrontation and scuffle. He chases this kid down," Garner said.

Mark Scarbrough, 16, allegedly pretended he had a gun in his pocket, Garner said.

Macy "figures it's his finger and he's right."

He muscled Scarbrough into submission and security personnel held him until police arrived.

Scarbrough is charged with robbery rather than simple theft, Garner said. Robbery can be charged if the use of force or apprehension of bodily injury is used in the course of a theft or flight afterwards, Garner said.

Thursday, when Macy was back at work, he was treated to an impromptu parade of officers congratulating him and giving him a citizenship award.

"Not everybody would act so quickly or know what to do or intercede" as Macy did, Garner said.

The woman's purse was returned, intact.

"She is extremely grateful," Garner said, and so are police.

"We're really proud of him," said Marty Bell of Smith's management. Macy acted fast and was paying attention to what was going on around him, she said.

Scarbrough has a lengthy criminal history in California, Garner said.