Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
iPhone Subway Sting: Man Arrested For Stealing iPhone From Undercover Cop
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 22, 2012
Modified Sep 22, 2012
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 Sep 22, 2012
Modified Sep 22, 2012
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
How coincidental! On the day that the NYPD was registering iPhones and other electronic devices as part of its "anti-Apple picking" campaign, plain clothes police officers arrested a man who stole an iPhone from a cop in a decoy operation!
According to the police, officers were conducting the sting around 3:40 p.m. on the Lexington Avenue line: They entered a crowded southbound 6 train at 51st Street and they saw a man "reach into the backpack of the decoy officer and remove an Apple I-Phone." The thief left the train at 42nd Street/Grand Central station, where he was arrested. Khomali Vinson was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
Tagged
6 train
anti apple picking
iphone
iphone theft
nypd
subway
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
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
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 .