Good Samaritans Help Find iPhone Thief
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police and the victim are praising some Good Samaritans who got involved and helped find the thief who took a woman's IPhone. It happened in the Lakeview neighborhood Wednesday night.
As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, near the Treasure Island store at Broadway and Cornelia, Anna Golonka was walking home holding some groceries and her iPhone.
"Someone hit me on the shoulder," she recalls, "grabbed by cell phone out of my hand and ran."
William Stanger was passing by on his motor scooter, his dog Oliver was along for the ride.
He says "I heard a lady call for help and I kind of came to her rescue."
Says Golonka, "I was screaming, you stole my phone, you stole my phone. I was pointing toward him."
Stanger and Oliver took off down Lakeview side streets after the fleeing suspect. At one point, the young thief gave up Golonka's phone and tossed it to another man who was chasing him on foot. The suspect was then joined by three other young men.
But Stanger persisted on his scooter, on the phone, telling police where to find them.
Finally police cornered the quartet, right where Stanger said they could be found. He says "it was amazing how many police converged on the situation. That was nice to see."
Golonka was grateful. She finally met Stanger and Oliver Friday night and thanked them for their help.
Said Stanger, "It was my pleasure."
A 17-year-old youth was charged with strong arm robbery in the case. The other three taken into custody were not charged and released.
The detective handling the case says Stanger and the other good Samaritan "did a good thing. It's important for people to be involved."
