Good Samaritan intervenes during robbery. Cell phone returned

Robbery Investigation

On December 17, 2013 at approximately 7 pm when most folks were concerned with navigating their way home through a substantial snow storm one individual's focus was on robbing people. At the above noted time Transit Police Officers from Area 4 received a radio call to respond to the corner of Cambridge and Wilton Street's in Allston for a report of a robbery that occurred on board an MBTA bus. Upon arrival officers met with the female victim and a witness/Good Samaritan. The officers were provided with the following information:  the victim while traveling on board a Route 66 MBTA bus was holding her Apple iPhone 5S when suddenly a male forcefully grabbed the phone from her hand and fled off the bus.

Another passenger who witnessed the robbery came to the victim's aid and pursued the robber off the bus and chased him down tackling him into a snow bank. The Good Samaritan demanded the robber return the victim's cell phone. The robber, apparently surprised by the Good Samaritan's actions, held up both his hands to show he no longer possessed the cell and stated he dropped the phone to the ground as he was being chased. The Good Samaritan then released the robber who fled in an unknown direction.

Transit Police officers retracing the path of the pursuit were able to locate the victim's cell phone and return it to her.

The robber was described as : Hispanic or possibly White male in his mid to late 20's, approximately 5'10 in height wearing a blue vest with a hood, grey sweater and black plastic frame glasses. Transit Police detectives are actively investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at 617-222-1050 or if you would like to assist our investigators but wish to remain anonymous you can simply text us your tip to 873873.

media inquiries should be directed to tpdnews@mbta.com

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