By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A man who allegedly stole a wallet from someone’s pocket on the 4 train last week was arrested after a witness chased him down, police said.
The witness, a 28-year-old Bronx man, told police he saw the thief take the wallet from the victim’s left breast pocket about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 2 on an uptown 4 train.
The victim struggled with the thief but the thief held on to the wallet and dashed off the train when it stopped at Fulton Street, police said.
The witness chased the thief from John Street to Nassau Street to Maiden Lane to William Street and finally flagged down police officers.
Police arrested Russell McGee, 59, and charged him with robbery in the third degree, according to police and the Manhattan District Attorney.
Police did not recover the wallet and offered no details about the victim.
Later that day, a woman eating lunch at Au Bon Pain had her wallet stolen, police said.
The 25-year-old victim, from East Meadow, N.Y., told police she put her wallet in her jacket pocket and then draped her jacket over the back of her chair at the 65 Broad St. eatery about 1:10 p.m. Feb. 2.
When she got up to leave about 45 minutes later, she realized the wallet was gone.
The victim lost a $300 Long Island Rail Road pass, credit cards and $30 in cash, police said. Fraudulent charges on one of the credits card included a $300 purchase at Century 21.
Last month, a woman’s $500 pocketbook was stolen while she talked to friends at Ulysses’ bar at 83 Pearl St., police said.
The 31-year-old victim, who lives in the Financial District, put her purse on the stool next to her about 2 a.m. Jan. 27, and when she turned back to it she realized it was gone.
She lost the $500 Antik Batik pocketbook, plus a debit card and $300 in cash, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477), text TIP577 to CRIMES (274637) or visit the website.
