Philadelphia

Woman Chases Robber While Watching Baby Nephew in Fishtown

The incident occurred Monday shortly before 11 a.m. on the 1200 block of North Front Street.

What to Know

  • A Philadelphia woman chased after a robber who snatched her purse while she was watching her baby nephew, police said.
  • Surveillance video shows the suspect escaping after the woman jumped on his back.
  • Neither the woman or the baby were hurt.

A Philadelphia woman’s instincts took over when she chased after a robber while watching her baby nephew in the city’s Fishtown neighborhood.

“It’s one of those moments you don’t know really know what’s happening,” the woman, who did not want to be identified, told NBC10. “Your brain thinks about it later.”

The 25-year-old woman, who works as a nanny, was pushing her baby nephew in a stroller Monday shortly before 11 a.m. on the 1200 block of North Front Street. As she was walking, an unidentified man approached her from behind.

“I made eye contact with him but I didn’t make anything of it,” the woman said. “He was just a guy standing on the street at 11 a.m.”

As the woman and her nephew walked closer to an indoor play area, the man reached into the stroller and grabbed her purse, police said. The woman then chased after the man and jumped onto his back as he ran south on Lee Street.

Surveillance Photo Fishtown Suspect
Philadelphia Police
Surveillance photo of the suspect. See full-sized image here.

Surveillance video shows the suspect pushing the woman off of him and then fleeing the scene. The woman’s purse contained about $150, credit and debit cards as well as her identification.

“I just hope it was worth it,” the woman said.

The woman was not hurt during the incident. She told NBC10 she’s considering taking a few self-defense classes.

If you see the suspect, do not approach him and call 911 immediately.
You can also submit a tip via telephone by calling 215-686-8477 or texting PPD TIP (773847).

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