Ann Arbor woman foils would-be purse snatcher by throwing cellphone at him
A 23-year-old Ann Arbor woman used her cellphone to stop a would-be thief near North Division and East Kingsley streets Wednesday night.
But not by calling police.
The woman threw the phone at a man who tried to steal her purse and scared him away, said Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush.
The woman told police she was walking home near the intersection at 10:22 p.m. when a man approached her from behind and asked for her purse.
"The victim stated that she turned and threw her cell phone at him," Bush stated in a release. "He ran away."
The woman was not hurt.
The suspect was described as a black male in his 40s with facial hair about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was wearing a dark, puffy jacket and a knit cap or hood.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Ann Arbor Police Tip Line at (734) 794-6939.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Goodphotographer
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 7:01 p.m.
I'm glad she was not hurt. It is funny in a strange defense sort of way. Whatever works to protect yourself short of a human sheild. Nice phone call lady.
TinyArtist
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Anyone with facial hair about five feet io inches tall should be easy to spot, unless he thinks of shaving.
HB11
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
What if everyone walked around with these military-style assault phones? Is that the kind of world in which we want to live?
M-Wolverine
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 6:54 p.m.
Phones don't kill people. People kill people. And call people.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
No joke. This kind of sudden event can be very frightening. I think the female victim's response was resourceful. I'm just glad her action worked to end the threat. And I can't help but mention that the location given is well within the 1000 foot radius "gun free zone" for Community High. Even with a CPL, anyone within such zones is prohibited from carrying a self defense firearm. The next purse snatcher in that area has open season on anyone they choose to victimize - and they may decide to illegally bring a weapon along for their hunting of other humans. Not funny at all.
jmac
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.
Was it a RAZR? that might actually hurt
zanzerbar
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 8:16 p.m.
They actually make cell phone stun guns.
ChelseaGK
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:44 p.m.
People are honestly making jokes about this? Absolutely disgusting. I'm sure if this happened to your sister, mother, friend, or daughter it would be just as funny, right?
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 11:48 a.m.
ChelseaGK: don't mind the trolls here. It's plain as day they lack empathy for what was probably a very frightening moment for the woman. It's also plain as day that such critics have never been under any kind of threat themselves and would be "hysterically funny" to watch in such circumstances. :-)
ChelseaGK
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 10:06 p.m.
I did read the article. I've read many on here. The writing is bush league at best. I know she wasn't asked. Thanks for your brilliant input, though. It means a lot.
George K
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 9 p.m.
Did you read the article? "The woman told police she was walking home near the intersection at 10:22 p.m. when a man approached her from behind and asked for her purse"
ChelseaGK
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
So again, if this happened to a woman you're close to, you'd find it humorous? Good to know. I'm sure they'd really appreciate that. Also, I doubt she was "asked" for it. I'm glad she wasn't physically harmed, but no one knows how this girl is going to be affected. Have some respect.
George K
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:52 p.m.
Someone asks for your purse, and you throw a phone at them and it actually deters them from taking it? Ya I think that's funny, but only because nobody was hurt.
John of Saline
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:31 p.m.
Was the phone OK? Maybe someone needs to market a phone-tazer combo.
tim
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 5:34 p.m.
Some kind of a damper that kills cell phone signals in all vehicles would be perfect.
arborani
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 4:38 p.m.
Tim: how about a button that deactivates it when it's taken into a vehicle?
tim
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
Then I want a button on my phone that makes the tazer go off on your phone when you're too busy yakking away to notice that the light turned green.
An Arborigine
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
Just be careful which button you push to use the "push to talk" feature.
Lakewood Mom
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:54 p.m.
I bet it wasn't a iPhone....
John of Saline
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:30 p.m.
Maybe she had a tough case for it.
Arieswoman
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:50 p.m.
I saw on the news this morning that you can now buy a cell phone case with a laser on the end of the case! Wow!
mady
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 7:21 p.m.
Wow!!! where can I get one?!
jcj
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 9:28 p.m.
That would be a taser. Pointers have lasers.
JRW
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
More and more thugs roaming the streets looking for targets. Unfortunately, winter weather isn't a deterrent. Walk with another person at night.
dsponini
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 4:24 p.m.
You are such a tuff guy Mike
Mike
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 4:32 a.m.
I like to walk with Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson...............
An Arborigine
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:19 p.m.
Thank goodness she had her CPL (Concealed Phone License). Nice work!
George K
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.
This will start a trend I'm sure. I can just see it now... "I don't know how they broke into my house, officer. I mean...I threw my cellphone at him but it didn't work like they said on the news!"
Mike
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:24 p.m.
Keep that one quiet or the White House will go down that road. Next thng you know the phone companies will be marketing self-defense telephones...................
George K
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
You see what we're left to defend ourselves with in Ann Arbor? Just our cell phones. Good thing the perp gave up so easily.
clownfish
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
Is there some law or statute in A2 that restricts your ability to use other items, including firearms? Can you cite this law, please? I move around A2 quite a bit with a loaded gun, axes, chainsaws, long pieces of metal and such, so I need to know about these restrictions you write about.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 4:23 p.m.
"....a man approached her from behind and asked for her purse." hmmmm. Did he ask a question or make a statement? Can I have your purse? Give me your purse! Granted when your alone at night the difference is pretty subtle if there is a difference.
Andy T
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:55 p.m.
It's like a Victorian era mugging... 'Excuse madam, might I trouble you for your purse?' Glad she's ok and I hope she's got the insurance on her phone plan.
UpperDecker
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 4:27 p.m.
Well it is not a theft if the man politely asks and she gives it to him lol