Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
iPhone Stolen On Brooklyn Bus Found With Find My iPhone App
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 7, 2011
Modified Dec 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 7, 2011
Modified Dec 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Thieves have been targeting passengers on mass transit for their smartphones, and iPhones in particular are very popular. Lately, iPhone owners have been using apps to recover their phones: The police announced that a man whose iPhone was stolen on a B47 bus on Monday got his phone back by using "Find My iPhone."
According to the Daily News, the 29-year-old victim "was confronted... Monday evening by two teens, one of whom snatched his iPhone. The startled victim said he chased the suspect off the bus, but an accomplice punched him in the face." He said, "It happened so fast. I didn’t even see them until one grabbed my phone.”
He let the police know that his phone had Find My iPhone and the cops traced it to the Uniss Deli on Mermaid Avenue, where an employee admitted he paid $60 for the phone. The deli worker, who was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, said he bought it from one of the suspects. The police told the News that they are looking at whether Uniss is a black market for stolen gadgets.
The unauthorized iGotYa app has been credited with returning one phone to another NYC robbery victim.
Tagged
b47
crime
findmyiphone
iphone
mass transit
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
A federal immigration agent shot a Dominican immigrant in the neck in Marble Hill Thursday night.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 10, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
News
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .