INWOOD — A thief swiped an iPhone from a woman in Inwood Monday night, police said, even as cops have beefed up patrols in the area.
The robbery took place just after 5:20 p.m. outside of 75 Park Terrace East. Cops say the suspect approached the victim, who was writing a text message to her daughter, and asked for directions.
The woman tried to help the man — who returned the favor by snatching her iPhone and bolting.
"She told me that he grabbed her phone," said resident Bob Harris, who was approached by the woman outside of 72 Park Terrace East after the robbery. "I asked whether she had Find my iPhone installed. She didn't know, she just got the phone as a gift.
"I was hoping we'd be able to look it up," Harris added.
No arrests have been made in the case yet.
Police have been on high alert in the Park Terrace area ever since a mother was mugged by three teenagers while walking a stroller along Park Terrace West in early April. Deputy Inspector Barry Buzzetti, commanding officer of the 34th Precinct, which polices the area, confirmed at last month's precinct council meeting that the area had been assigned additional foot patrols.
"We'll keep that sustained during summer time," Buzzetti said at the meeting. "Not necessarily just in Park Terrace and Isham, but in the area."
