A dimwitted burglar with a long criminal record stole a man’s cellphone on a Manhattan train late Tuesday and was apprehended when the victim enticed him by promising to purchase it back, according to cops.
Kevin Cooper, 57, allegedly seized the phone of the 20-year-old victim while seated on a northbound E train near 34th Street-Penn Station shortly after 11 p.m., according to police.
According to cops, he fled after the theft.
However, when the victim dialed the stolen phone, Cooper answered and the two men planned to meet near West 4th Street, where the victim claimed he would buy the phone back, according to police.
Cooper, on the other hand, had no idea that the victim was collaborating with cops, who arrived at the scene about 12:30 a.m. and arrested him. Cops claimed it happened on Wednesday.
Authorities accused Cooper, of the Bronx, with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and criminal possession of a controlled narcotic.
He was discovered with two ziplock bags containing purported crack cocaine and a crack pipe.
Cooper has 52 past arrests, the majority of which were for cocaine possession, including his most recent arrest in August, according to cops.
According to authorities, he has previously been arrested for assault, robbery, petit larceny, and criminal trespass.
