MANCHESTER, NH – A city teen is in custody after allegedly opening the passenger-side door of a stranger’s car while he was still in it, and swiping an iPad and iPhone from the seat next to him before running off.
Ahmed Abukar, 19, of Manchester, was arrested after police found him allegedly hiding in some bushes with the two stolen items.
According to a police narrative, Officer Kevin Bernard was flagged down by the crime victim, a 51-year-old Manchester resident, in the area of Union and Green streets at 2:15 p.m. on August 7. The victim told Officer Bernard that he was seated in his vehicle outside a Pine Street residence waiting for his daughter when a man he didn’t know opened his passenger side door and removed his iPhone and iPad from the passenger seat.
The victim said the crime happened so fast he couldn’t deter the alleged thief, who ran toward Sheridan-Emmett Park while holding the two stolen items.
A bystander, Kyle Gilpartric, 18, of Manchester, was in the area of Sheridan Emmett Park when Officer Bernard arrived on scene. He told the officer that he had seen a man sprint through the park while clutching an iPad.
Officer Bernard continued his investigation and found the alleged thief hiding in the bushes in front of 174 Grove St. He was identified as Ahmed Abukar, 19, of Manchester. Abukar was holding the iPad when Officer Bernard located him in the bushes. He allegedly denied taking the items.
Further investigation revealed the iPhone was also next to Abukar, located on the ground, out of sight, underneath the bushes where Abukar was found hiding.
The victim of the theft arrived a short time later and was able to identify and retrieve the iPad and the iPhone. Abukar was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, a felony, as the value of the items exceeded $1,000. He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on September 11, 2015.
You’re one click away! Sign up for our free eNewsletter and never miss another thing
