Man Snatched Phone from Mall Shopper, Police Say

Lawrence Township police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who fled after snatching a cellular phone from a shopper at Quaker Bridge Mall on Route 1 last week.

The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Edison, told police she was talking on her iPhone while walking in the area of the mall’s center court when the man ran up from behind, grabbed the phone out of her hand and fled shortly before 1:20 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, according to township police spokesman Lt. Mark Ubry.

The thief was described as a black male, 18 to 20 years old, 6 feet to 6 feet 5 inches tall, 120 to 130 pounds, wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and sneakers, Ubry said. He said the thief was last seen exiting the mall in the area of the bus port.

The stolen phone was valued at $300, he said, noting that the woman was not injured.   

Officer Thomas Chianese and Detective William Chester are investigating the crime.

Police ask anyone with information about the thief’s identity to call them at (609) 896-1111.