- : Here’s another mugging of a person on E Thomas who was apparently targeted after she got off the bus on 23rd Ave. In the Wednesday evening incident, a woman told police she was held in a chokehold by a thief who came up behind and grabbed her as she walked from the bus near 22nd Ave E and E Thomas. According to the victim, she was walking just after 5p when the mugger came up behind her, placed her in a chokehold position and proceeded to rifle through her purse. The thief grabbed her iPhone and ran from the scene. The suspect could only describe her attacker as a black male in a dark hoodie. The victim said she attempted to track the phone but the thief had apparently powered the iPhone down. Police conducted a search but were unsuccessful. Police have contacted Metro to retrieve surveillance video from coaches operating on the 43 route that night. CHS has previously reported on a December 2nd mugging in the same area of two teenagers who were followed from 23rd Ave after getting off the bus.
- A 15th Ave man reported this peculiar robbery to police Wednesday morning on E Olive St. Here is the SPD report on the reported 8:30a incident:
What is it with all these teenage urban thugs assaulting people and stealing their I-phones or I-whatevers? It’s an epidemic. No doubt, it’s a negative consequence of so many people using digital devices as they walk down the street….another good reason not to have one.
By that rationale, we shouldn’t have anything, because it could be stolen.
Note that this woman was not using her iPhone when she was mugged. He rifled through her purse. If she had not had one, he’d have just stolen something else.
Fact: There were no muggings before the iphone.
Thanks a lot Steve Jobs.
I’m just glad I don’t live on the eastside. There are so many digital devices there, why I’d expect to be mugged at least once a week.
doesn’t anyone have the presence of mind to get the license plate number? Also the street smarts or lack thereof of some of the mugging victims on the hill, what’d they just fall off a turnip truck?
I was taught not to let people see how much money youre carrying because it can make you a target. Smart phones and ipods are the equal to waving money in thieves faces and making you a target. Many people could be more discreet about this including myself. There was a day when computer and phones were only in our homes.
Maybe some of us did just fall off of the turnip truck, but I’d still try to get a partial plate and make/model of the car.
Well, of course there were muggings and robberies prior to the iPhone and similar devices. But I think their popularity is increasing the likelihood you will be a victim of such crimes, because many thugs are specifically after expensive digital toys.
It’s ironic that cell phones supposedly increase a person’s safety, yet they are a common cause of becoming a victim.
As a person who has to take a bus off 23rd, all these muggings are scary and frustrating. I try not to have my phone out so I don’t get targeted.