Times columnist reports fighting off thief in Philadelphia hotel room

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof fought with and restrained an intruder he found in his Philadelphia hotel room.

Kristof said in a message on Twitter that there had been “big excitement” when he “interrupted an intruder” in his room early Saturday at the Franklin Hotel near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

Big excitement. I interrupted an intruder in my hotel room in Philadelphia. A chase. A fight. Restrained him. Police have just arrived.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) November 12, 2016

The intruder in our hotel room was just a thief. Thanks to Franklin Hotel for helping. He has been arrested. I'm not really hurt.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) November 12, 2016

Gave police a statement, and thief is jailed. I have a wrenched thumb from the fight but otherwise ok. Fortunately, he was a wimpish thief. https://t.co/HEvKmJdzUG

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) November 12, 2016

He said there was a chase and then a fight but restrained the man, who he said was apparently a thief. 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.”

A police spokesman confirmed the account, saying the columnist “chased him, struggled with him and held him until officers arrived.” The suspect is in custody awaiting charges.