On Monday, we posted a few reports from the weekend’s crime blotter and made reference to an incident at 15th and Pine Friday night that we were still looking for more information on. Turns out, the victim in the incident saw our note and shared details of the theft — and some advice she earned the hard way after losing her iPhone and badly scraping up her hands in a fall trying to chase the suspect. Thanks for the note — and reminder, J, to be a little more careful with how much screen time we log on the streets:
I saw that you were looking into the crime on 15th & Pine on Friday night and I’m certain that the victim was me.
I was standing at the bus stop and looking at my phone before turning in for the night. A hooded guy ran past and relieved me of it, running North. It was about 11pm, and there were loads of people around. There were about 10 witnesses that gave statements. He was very very fast. I ran after him and (I blame the footwear), I took quite a fall and mucked up my hands pretty good in the pursuit.
It’s important to remember, I unfortunately found, that sporting an expensive iPhone while standing alone, engrossed in email, isn’t the best idea. He pulled no weapon, nor made any threat. He just…swiped it.
Hope this helps. It’s a good reminder of awareness – which, sucks, because I was standing in front of my own home. I feel like I’m pretty aware when walking around, but had my guard down because of where I was.
Good advice. It’s also helpful to have phone-tracking apps installed, so if someone does steal it (or you lose/drop it somewhere), you can find where it is from a computer at home.
For the Android, something like “Lookout” https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lookout&hl=en
For the iPhone, “Find My iPhone” http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt
There are dozens more, I’m sure…I think some will even sound an “alarm” so it’s even easier to find your phone once you’ve got its general location down.
It’s built into Windows phones.
Thank you so much to the victim for sharing your experience and warning. Sorry it happened to you, but I’m glad you weren’t hurt. I will definitely pay better attention from now on– I promise to learn from your advice. Thanks for reminding me.
This happens on the bus with some regularity. A driver told me that people who are looking at their phones and who are sitting near the back door are particularly vulnerable–kids just swipe the phone and run off the bus while the doors are open.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Similar thing happened to me a few weeks ago. Walking, pushing my bike on Seneca between 5th and 6th, about noon. Talking on my iPhone, a guy (hooded sounds right?) sprinted from behind me and snatched the phone out of my hand and clawed my neck in the process. I almost lost my balance since I had my bike in one hand, so I was too busy righting myself to chase after him or even really get a good look at him. People everywhere but no one seemed to notice, so no witnesses. The guy left the phone on for maybe 10 minutes (my husband was alarmed that our conversation had ended so abruptly and kept calling back, then eventually it started going straight to voicemail). After he turned it off I couldn’t track its location anymore, so I got a new one, to the tune of $400.
I’ve definitely started clutching it more tightly when I use it, and using my headphones to talk on the phone when I’m out and about.