Ann Arbor police ask for public's help in identifying sly cellphone thief
The man turning around with what appears to be sunglasses tilted on his face over one eye is the primary suspect in a May 19 cellphone theft on Church Street.
Courtesy of Ann Arbor police
It can happen in a split second.
Two women sit down next to a man outside of a pizza spot on Church Street and, as is customary among young people, one of them takes out her cellphone and places it on the table. A friend approaches, gives the woman a hug and a conversation begins.
Meanwhile, the man distracts the second woman by pointing out something down the block. With one hand extended, he reaches out with his other hand and nabs the cellphone, slyly depositing it into his pocket. A few seconds later, the man disappears into the night.
Ann Arbor police detectives are asking for help to bring that man out of the night and into handcuffs.
Police released video of the scene just described in hopes that the public might be able to identify the culprit. Detective Dave Monroe said the incident occurred at 1:30 a.m. May 19 outside Backroom Pizza in the 600 block of Church Street.
In the video, the incident occurs in the bottom right corner of the screen.
The man was sitting at the picnic tables outside Backroom Pizza for a few minutes before the women came outside with their food, according to police.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or call Monroe directly at 734-794-6930, ext. 49308.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
julieswhimsies
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
Will they arrest dumb cell phone thieves, as well?
Madeleine Borthwick
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
Ok, to anyone who tries to swipe my phone...I keep my phone in my purse/VERY DEEP POCKET. anyone who tries to go after it will be sorry. Don't say I didn't warn you.
chubbybunny
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
Eh. I'm not convinced from this video that he "stole" the phone maliciously. He probably thought it was his and wandered off with it. He did appear quite inebriated. Did the girl try to call the phone after realizing it was missing? Would be interesting to know if he answered it.
chubbybunny
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 7:17 p.m.
Madeleine, I agree that taking something that isn't yours is wrong. I was only arguing the word "stole" in the article. If my phone was taken in this manner, I would be upset. But, I would also be glad that I wasn't physically harmed.
Madeleine Borthwick
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Hello?! drunk or not, what he did was WRONG. let's see your reaction if it ever happens to You.
Observing
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
Stories we're working on. Woman has cellphone stolen. Johnny Paul defeats Opie in 4th grade spelling bee. Winning word: tailor. Helen Crump's cat still in Clara Edward's maple tree.
eyesofjustice
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.
South U is turning into a shady part of town.......
CincoDeMayo
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:39 a.m.
Has been for a while
smokeblwr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
It's always been shady. Look at the stores there selling booze, hookahs, condoms, footlongs...
Jatra
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
I believe he is wearing an eye patch not sunglasses. You know like a pirate. Pirate vs Ninja parties were all the rage back on the day, maybe this is a throwback thief!
A2ron
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
"Ann Arbor police detectives are asking for help to bring that man out of the night and into handcuffs." I know it's a slow news day, but are you even trying anymore?
ItsTheTruth
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
It's a pirate!
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
A SLY cellphone thief is out there, folks, as opposed to a clumsy and dumb cellphone thief. Hahaaa....I know theft is no laughing matter, and these phones are expensive...but...the headline...Pffffft! Thanks A2.com!
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
Blame this on the voters, the mindless cretins. Had they approved the $350 million jail Washtenaw County wanted a few years back, this guy would already have been locked up. So would another 2,000 or 3,000 persons of interest, or enough to fill however many cots $350 million buys nowadays.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
What? A new 350 mil jail that also catches thieves. No there's a concept.
smokeblwr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:04 p.m.
What do AA.com readers think would have been the outcome had UM allowed their students to defend themselves on campus as is their Constitutional Right? My guess: Victory.
CincoDeMayo
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:36 a.m.
My guess: nothing. Since they didn't even realize the phone was being taken.
Ponycar
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:53 p.m.
Even "enough Justices" should not be able to change something that is clearly Constitutional into something that isn't. If you EVER get enough support to pass a Constitutional Amendment, then you'd have your victory. Good luck on that one. Too large a majority of people in this country support the Second Amendment to the Constitution for THAT to happen any time soon.
Mitch
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.
Sorry, a firearm would have been a deterant nothing more. No shots fired, NO robbery attempted. Which is the reason most people use them. Think about it. The best place to harm someone is outside a bar, in a shool or on campus.
smokeblwr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
Someday we'll get enough justices in the Supreme Court to change that law....
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
My guess. Somebody would be hurt or dead. The death penalty for thieves?!
Ricebrnr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
What Robert said. Lots of assumptions in your statement. Not noted in the story: 1) if these were even students. 2) if this was on campus 3) that there was any threat to life at all. Once again, satire or sarcasm. Either way not only FAIL but dangerous.
Robert Granville
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
The outcome would've been a felony charge. You can't shoot someone fleeing with your cellphone in this state.
drut_ferguson
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
Sunglasses at 1:30 am, eh? I hope the AAPD has an APB out for Corey Hart.
huh7891
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
Wow...showing your age a bit?
TNB
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7 p.m.
First thing on his list: Change ringtone to 'Sunglasses at Night'
smokeblwr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:53 p.m.
Don't mess around with a guy in shades.....OH NO!
smokeblwr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:21 p.m.
The guy looks hammered. His glasses are all askew and he is staggering down the street. I bet he doesn't even know how woke up with a pink iPhone.
smokeblwr
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:51 p.m.
Not excusing anybody getting drunk and then stealin' when you should have been buyin' is a conscious choice to enter such a state. How much he chooses to eat as a conscious choice is debatable given the preponderance of delicious food we have in Ann Arbor. We can debate that some other time.
Hmm
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.
He knew exactly what he was doing. Please don't try and excuse this behavior, this man is a criminal and committed a theft. if he was drunk or drinking is no excuse.