Crime & Safety

MBTA Riders Swarm, Hold Down Alleged Cell Phone Thief at Stony Brook T in Jamaica Plain

Riders responded to a woman's call "They stole my phone!" and held down a suspect until police could arrest the man.

MBTA passengers rallied to a woman's call of "They stole my phone!" and wrestled a suspect to the floor at .

The incident took place on Friday at 12:24 a.m. Just as an Orange Line train opened its doors, someone grabbed a cell phone from a passenger and fled with two other men. All three had been sitting near the victim: One to her left and two across from her.

The woman's cry for help didn't go unheeded, according to a Transit Police report.

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A witness, who had reached the top of the escalator, heard the call and wrapped the main suspect in a bear hug to bring him down. One of the suspects' associates hit the witness twice, briefly freeing the main suspect.

But that didn't last long, as three other riders grabbed the main suspect again and held him down until police arrived.

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Police arrested Amin Mohamed, 19, of 783 Washington St., Boston and charged him with unarmed robbery.

The two other men are described as follows: One, who is alleged to have punched the Samaritan, was a black man in his late teens, about 6-1, with a slim build. He wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, flat-brimmed baseball cap, blue jeans and dark colored shoes with white soles. The second man was also black and in his late teens, also about 6-1 with a slim build and wearing a blue hoodie with white markings. He wore black jeans, possibly with red shoes that had white shell toes. He was holding a white T shirt.

The incident comes as Boston Police have issued a about an increase in street robberies in Jamaica Plain. It was not immediately clear if the man arrested Friday is suspected in any of the other recent robberies.


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