An alert employee captured a theft suspect and recovered a purse allegedly stolen from a Waikiki restaurant last night, police said.

The employee noticed a man stealing a purse belonging to a 52-year-old woman at about 10:15 last night, police said. The employee followed the 33-year-old suspect, stopped him and recovered the purse, police said. The worker held the man until police arrived and arrested the suspect, who has no local address, near the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach hotel.