Witnessed a phone snatch on the waterfront tonight

Submitted by Stargazerem30 t3_11iinr0 in jerseycity

Three of us were walking to the ferry along the waterfront and what we thought was a group of four kids suddenly ran past us. We thought nothing of it as one was laughing and none were yelling for help etc.

They get a little bit in front of us, one turns around and pulls out a large knife and swings at another, and we suddenly realize what's happening. Knife holder and his friends run off, we talk to the girlfriend of the guy targeted to make sure he's ok and she says they had stopped to look at something on his phone and the kids sprinted up and snatched it. He was physically unharmed but him and his girlfriend both shaken.

Police were called, my reason for posting is to remind everyone to stay safe and vigilant!

126

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

craftadvisory t1_jayloq4 wrote

Can you clarify your story? Who was swinging the knife? Why would one kid be swinging a knife at his friends?

28

Stargazerem30 OP t1_jaypbq6 wrote

Replying to craftadvisory (#2,162,824)

I'm trying to say we thought it was a group of friends, who were fooling around, chasing each other, etc. In reality, it was actually the victim chasing the kid who stole his phone. The kid who stole the phone then turned around with a knife and swung.

65

Technical_Wall1726 t1_jaz0qb4 wrote

Are there phone cases you can get that make it hard to someone to snatch ?

−1

ChissWiz t1_jaz1qst wrote

poor kid probably grew up disenfranchised with little education or work opportunities

#holla

−56

matteofox t1_jaz3znb wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,163,278)

I’m glad there isn’t concealed carry, because if there was, someone may have died in this situation. Everyone walked away alive. I’d rather permit the injustice of a phone being stolen than someone, especially a kid, be shot dead

21

zjuka t1_jazbgjr wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,163,278)

Yeah, definitely distressed victim of the phone snatching shooting onto the crowd at the waterfront is the solution. Get your head out of your ass please, macho

34

G_Funk_Error t1_jb0c7gn wrote

A phone snatch!? Marry her!! That’s better than one with teeth. Oh. Wait. I misunderstood what you meant.

−26

matteofox t1_jb0q8gw wrote

Replying to G_Funk_Error (#2,164,930)

Because it’s still gonna happen anyway, the threat of violence doesn’t prevent crime. In concealed carry states, crime still exists at similar rates to places without concealed carry. And also like….. it’s just a petty theft. Is property more important than life?

8

matteofox t1_jb0r1us wrote

Replying to G_Funk_Error (#2,165,508)

You really want to live in a society where anyone can hold lethal force at any time? What if you piss somebody off and they’re having a bad day? Look up road rage shootings by state. You really want to get lit up for cutting somebody off?

3

G_Funk_Error t1_jb0rliu wrote

Replying to matteofox (#2,165,524)

You answer your awful premise directly, no. I’d rather we have a police force that did their job and prosecutors who did their jobs. Since that doesn’t exist, I, as a lawful and trained gun owner, should be allowed to defend myself in the instance of a robbery which is where this discussion started.

0

matteofox t1_jb0rqpm wrote

Replying to G_Funk_Error (#2,165,528)

Yes because making concealed carry legal isn’t going to increase illegal shootings at all. 🙄

It’s literally common sense. Move to Texas if you wanna live in a crimeless, gun filled utopia

1

flockofcells t1_jb0rvhy wrote

Replying to matteofox (#2,165,499)

You don't pull a gun unless there is risk of death or serious physical harm, and you don't go instigating that over petty theft, so you're right it's better to let it go. The trouble is by tolerating petty theft today, it paves the road for more serious crimes tomorrow. I don't want to watch the JC waterfront slowly turn back into a place that isn't safe at night.

1

matteofox t1_jb0ss5u wrote

Replying to flockofcells (#2,165,565)

I can see how my wording could make it seem like I think petty theft is tolerable. When I said “just a petty theft”, I was simply comparing it to lethal force, in terms of severity. We agree - we should not tolerate petty theft

1

Jahooodie t1_jb0tgra wrote

This is similar to the stories people have posted here of groups of teens/kids robbing them with weapons on the waterfront/newport/back up 2nd street. Could be unrelated, but still that gnarly

15

SadMaverick t1_jb1alky wrote

We also faced multiple group of teenagers harassing people near Newport area. Did not steal in our case, but had spray cans of foam spraying it all over people and running away.

What is up with the sudden increase in nuisance past few months?

9

vmsxx t1_jb3j4nd wrote

was the thief black?

−2