Ride-by Ipod thief on Underhill!!

This afternoon I was walking with my son down Underhill (btwn St.J's & Sterling) and witnessed a young man ride up on the sidewalk and attempt to snatch a young woman's Ipod right out of her hand. He dropped it by accident. I saw him coming toward me and wailed him really hard in the knee as he rode by. I really connected with his knee hard, so I hope he is forced to take a break tomorrow. He kept it moving and crossed the street, and over St.J's toward Washington Ave.

This young man was probably in his early 20's. He was wearing black skinny jeans (very slight build), black hoodie with his hood up. On the hood was blue embroidery. It looked like an Ed Hardy knockoff. He had dark sun glasses on. The bike was a black 10 speed (not new, not fancy). The guy looked like a black hipster, the way he was dressed and on the 10 speed! His moves (to me) were that of someone who is very comfortable with this situation and is pretty well practiced with exception to his butter fingers this afternoon.

I flagged down a firetruck/van, hoping they would catch up to him because the guy had just left about 20 seconds before. They called the police who showed up minutes later. Too late to catch him. The victim stayed to talk with the police, but they didn't seem too interested. I asked if there was going to be a report and he said there is one already once a phone call is placed to 911 (fire fighters called I guess). They didn't take our names, just asked where we lived.

So, keep your Ipod in your pocket. This guy probably stalked her a bit and busted his move when he thought he was in the clear. I think if her head phones were not on her head, and she was just holding the Ipod, he would have gotten a better grip on it and it would have been gone in a flash.

BEWARE.