Crime & Safety

Robber Arrested Thanks to Help of Good Samaritan

A witness chased after a suspect who stole a cell phone from the pants pocket of a 62-year-old man.

Thanks to the efforts of a good Samaritan, San Leandro Police were able to apprehend and arrest a suspected robber who pick-pocketed a cell phone from a 62-year-old man.

Around 3:08 p.m. on Saturday, the San Leandro Police department received a 911 call regarding a theft in progress at the 1300 block of Fairmont Drive. The caller said that a witness to the crime was running after the suspect.

Police arrived at the scene and were told by the victim that the suspect had taken his cell phone from his pants pocket. The witness who was chasing the suspect — 20-year-old Jovann Augustus of Hayward — said he was last seen near Burger King on the 15000 block of E. 14th Street.

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Officers found the suspect exiting the fast food restaurant through a suspect description.

Augustus was arrested for grand theft from a person. The victim's phone was recovered when Augustus dropped it while being chased by the witness.

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“The extraordinary efforts by the witnesses in this case lead to the arrest of a suspect who targeted the vulnerability of the 62-year-old victim," said Lt. Jeff Tudor. "This type of involvement demonstrates commitment to community and is great example of how important it is for all of us to work together to improve public safety and quality of life.”

The San Leandro Police Department recommends that citizens do not participate in any direct verbal or physical involvement with suspicious persons or those who are committing crimes. Instead, the encourage the community to record the details of what they observe and to report those details to the Police.

Please contact Det. Walton with any information regarding this case at 510-577-3234 or contact the Anonymous Tip Line at 510-577-3278.

Citizens can also send an anonymous tip to San Leandro Police Department by texting the word SLPD and their tip to 847411. Anonymous web tips can be submitted from the Police Departments website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd/at.asp


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