Teenage Victim Of Subway Phone Thief Fights Back, Steals Thief’s Phone

Bandits beware: Southern Brooklyn’s ladies know how to protect themselves.

A local teenage girl, Tanya, was riding the southbound F train when a thug attempted to swipe her phone near the Avenue N station. Not only did Tanya fight back – she nabbed the would-be thief’s phone, too.

“When he went through the doors, I kind of tackled him down on the ground, and I fell with him,” Tanya told PIX11.

“I kind of slammed him against the other train door, and he started screaming look at this crazy lady she has my phone, she’s trying to steal my phone and I was like that’s insane,” said Tanya.

Unfortunately, Tanya didn’t actually get her own phone back. While wrestling the man, she grabbed what she thought was her own phone and let go of him, but it turned out to be the robber’s.

But the thief’s phone wasn’t password protected, and the NYPD pulled photos of the robber to help track him down. The suspect is described as a black man in his 30s, six feet tall and approximately 180 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website, or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.