Dear PoP – Props to the Cops (Vol. 7 and 8) and a Nameless Hero!

Photo by PoPville flickr user Néstor Sánchez Cordero Photography

“Dear PoP,

I just wanted to share this amazing story, part cautionary tale, part feel-good story, part vigilante justice!

Getting off the Chinatown metro at about 11:30 yesterday, I was looking up directions when a kid came running up behind me, grabbed my iphone, and took off bolting. I tried in vain to follow him, yelling things I shouldn’t have been yelling in the middle of tourism season in such a highly populated part of town, as everyone looked on, until a stranger started running toward the kid, even faster than the kid, who was going pretty fast himself. The stranger asked what direction the kid went and took off.

I followed behind and caught up with the stranger about 2 blocks later, where he gave me the thumbs up and told me he found an officer, who ran along with him after the kid. I thanked him, and he took off in the opposite direction. Two more blocks away, three officers had my phone and had the kid in the back of a van. I answered some questions, IDed the kid, and was on my way. I just wanted to take the time out to commend the officers who helped me out, as well as recognize the stranger for the Batman he truly is!

On a side note, if anyone knows the stranger in question (I know if I were that guy, I would have told every pretty lady I could find about the awkward, out of shape man whose phone I helped retrieve) if you could give me his e-mail address, I’d love to thank him one more time.

The moral of the story? Thieves are dumber than you think, just don’t be dumber than them. No matter where you are or what time of the day it is, be vigilant of your overpriced electronics.”

Also MPD did good work at 13th and U St, NW yesterday:

Dear Citizens,

On April 28, 2011, at approximately 5:35 p.m., two juveniles (one male, one female) encountered a female citizen in the 1300 block of U Street, N.W. These suspects approached their intended victim from the rear, made forceful and violent contact with her, grabbed her IPad device, and fled by running in the north alley of the 1300 block of U Street, N.W.

An alert MPD officer was in the vicinity and was alerted to the robbery in progress by another citizen. The officer immediately pursued the suspects. They were apprehended in the alley, positively identified by the victim, and arrested. These arrests demonstrate that the MPD will pursue criminal offenses to the fullest extent of the law. Also, as a reminder, citizens are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and to be mindful when using electronic devices in public.