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Teens Tackled After iPhone Theft
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 5, 2010
Modified Mar 5, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 5, 2010
Modified Mar 5, 2010
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Don't mess with the Starbucks set, nogoodnik teenagers. According to the NY Post, two teens tried to swipe 36-year-old Jini Rooney's iPhone from a Starbucks on the Upper West Side yesterday afternoon. Rooney was resting her phone atop the counter at the West 73rd Street store when the duo tried to run off with it. She chased one down, telling the paper, "I was determined to run him down. I sized him up and knew I could get him."
A group of strangers saw her running and helped her on her pursuit—eventually Rooney herself turned back realizing she left her purse at the Starbucks. One of the good Samaritans ended up tackling the iPhone-toting teen on 74th Street. He later said, "I saw a woman chasing them, and I just reacted. I think I did what most people would do."
Both teens were arrested and are likely to be charged with robbery. As for Rooney, who just moved here from Ireland, she says, "the average people just stepped up. It's a real sign of community. This feels like my inauguration to New York. This is actually a wonderful experience. I was in trouble, and complete strangers came to my aid." Well, that's a different kind of Welcome to New York experience than most people get.
Tagged
good saramitan
iphone
Jini Rooney
starbucks
theft
uws
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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