WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Officers with the Wilmington Police Department are giving credit to a good neighbor in a recent arrest for a purse snatching.

According to police, Joshua Edward Aksel is accused of reaching into a car window and taking a purse. The victim’s friend saw this happen and provided a detailed description.

Police say the victim spotted a man matching the description and tried to chase him down. A second friend drove around and found him behind some dumpsters.

According to police, the friend convinced the suspect to direct him to where he had discarded the purse.

Aksel was charged with breaking and entering of an automobile and larceny.

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NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The Chief of the UNCW Police Department says he is concerned about a bill (HB937) that would let people with conceal and carry permits take their guns onto college campuses, as long as the guns stay locked in their cars.

Recently, the school's chancellor voiced similar concerns.

Chief David Donaldson says he's worried that allowing guns to stay in locked cars would create more threats.

"I think it creates some risks that don't currently exist," said Chief Donaldson.

For example, he says, if weapons are allowed on campuses, even in locked cars, they could fall into the wrong hands too easily. The chief says UNCW had 49 vehicle break-ins in 2012, adding that a criminal fleeing from the scene of a break-in with a stolen handgun would be a serious threat to everyone on campus.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Officials at UNCW released surveillance video Tuesday showing two suspicious fires on campus last week.

UNCW Chief of Police David Donaldson is asking that anyone with information about who may have been involved in starting the fires reach out to authorities.

"Keeping this campus safe is a collective effort among our personnel and our faculty, staff, and students," said Donaldson in a press release. "We need people to lend a hand when they have information that has compromised, or could compromise, the safety and well-being of anyone on this campus."

Both fires caused minimal damage and were extinguished quickly.

The first fire was on the grass near the Seahawk Landing around 11 p.m. Wednesday. Officials say a vehicle nearby had minor damage in the fire.