By Carol Tannenhauser
The fellow fleeing above allegedly snatched a cellphone from the hand of a 36-year-old woman on a southbound #2 train in the vicinity of Broadway and West 72nd Street, on April 10 at around 8:25 p.m. The woman was not injured. The suspect fled from the station, police said. They have released a surveillance photograph in the hopes that the public will help find him.
The possible perp is described as approximately 5’7″, last seen wearing a baseball cap, a jacket with a design on the front and back, and blue sweatpants.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confidential.
. . . and the hits just keep on coming
If they catch him I’m sure he will be released, even if he has several past convictions. Because no one cares about quality of life crimes, and there is no extra penalty for recidivism.
Broken windows policing – it is these types of relatively minor crimes happening frequently on the subway that have people on edge and lead to events like the man dying on the subway.
I see people jumping or jimmying the turnstiles frequently.
At certain stations, it’s more often than not. Might as well make it free, bc they either hold the door open or jump. No one to see it or stop them.
Even at 72nd and Broadway, the subway workers hanging out in their uniforms at ground level watch and say nothing.
Like I said, at a couple of other stations familiar to me, it happens all the time bc there is never anyone to see or say something to stop them.
I guess cameras aren’t always a deterrent and they’re never used to playback the day’s activities.
This can no longer be a quality-of-life crime. A phone today is not a low-value convenience or household item.
From loss of precious personal mementos, to highly sensitive personal and financial information with potential for significant fraud, all the way to risk of identity theft, for a victim this is in many ways a much more impactful crime than even the theft of expensive jewelry or grand theft auto.
Legislators and prosecutors need to start living in the times and adjust laws, procedures and consequences accordingly, all the way down to reselling and pawning of stolen phones without proof of purchase, ec.
Of course, I have no illusions that this will happen anytime soon.
took them almost a month to release the surveillance photo
Good point. These cameras are toothless.
He may have removed his baseball cap in that time
All we know is that the suspect is 5′-7″ and ostensibly a male.
Good point!
It’s hard not to think the MTA is encouraging phone thieves by promoting the OMNY system. With so many more people pulling out their cell phones to tap the OMNY terminals it’s like a free buffet for the bad guys. (Not to mention that subway platforms and cars are full of distracted people whiling away time on their phones. More easy pickings for the thieves.) No, I’m not blaming the victims, just suggesting that valuables like cell phones be kept in pockets or purses when you’re in a vulnerable position.
How awful! I’m going to take a guess that the woman was coming home from work and either still working or making plans to go out.
I appreciate everyone’s concern here, but let’s put it in the right place.
Please, reach out to your elected officials by phone and voice your concerns.
This is 2023 and women have a right to feel safe in New York City.