LOWER EAST SIDE — A teenage iPhone thief was arrested after he unknowingly texted a police officer from the stolen phone — and set up a time to meet.
The unusual arrest happened soon after the 16-year-old robber snatched an iPhone from a woman's hands as she walked home along Henry Street at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.
The woman struggled to hold onto her phone, but the teen managed to rip it from her hands, and then ran off, police said.
The 45-year-old victim then texted her stolen phone, from her son's phone, writing "Give me phone back I would pay u money," according to a police report.
When the woman went to the 7th Precinct to report the crime soon after she was robbed, the teen texted back — but this time, a police officer responded and arranged, via text, a place to meet and and get the phone in exchange for $350.
When they met up, and the teen saw police, instead of the woman, he tried to run, then resisted arrested, according to the police report.
The teen was charged with third degree robbery. He was released without bail and is due back in court on March 16, court records show.
