This is almost too good to be true, but it comes from the Spokesman-Review, the major newspaper in Spokane, Washington.  And today isn’t April first.

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – A rancher jumped on his horse Friday morning and lassoed a man who allegedly was trying to steal a bicycle in the parking lot of an Oregon Wal-Mart, police said.

Robert Borba was at the Eagle Point store loading dog food and a camping tent into his truck when he heard a woman screaming that someone was trying to steal her bike, the Medford Mail Tribune reported.

The 28-year-old said he quickly got his horse, Long John, out of its trailer. He grabbed a rope, rode over to the man who was reportedly struggling with the bike gears and attempting to flee on foot. Borba lassoed the man around the legs and when he dropped, Borba dragged him to one end of the parking lot.

Robert Borba (Denise Baratta / Associated Press)

Mr. Borba doesn’t sound exactly like John Wayne or Gary Cooper, but he does have a certain rough-hewn directness:

“I seen this fella trying to get up to speed on a bicycle,” Borba told the Tribune. “I wasn’t going to catch him on foot. I just don’t run very fast.” (snip)

“I use a rope every day, that’s how I make my living,” Borba said. “If it catches cattle pretty good, it catches a bandit pretty good.”

The man arrested was identified as Victorino Arellano-Sanchez.

I am of the generation that grew up on cowboy movies.  This story just warms my heart more than I can explain.

Hat tip: iOTW Report