Tom Nordeman, 43, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, says he bought lunch for a stranger in Chinatown last Thursday. Philadelphia police say the man later stole Nordeman’s cellphone, and fraudulent charges followed.
Nordeman told NBC10 Philadelphia that the man introduced himself as Ethan in Center City. They ate together at Philly Steak and Pizzeria; surveillance video later obtained by the station shows them at the restaurant before the reported theft.
Nordeman said Ethan offered to help him cross the street near the 100 block of North 10th Street. After they reached the other side, Nordeman said, Ethan was gone. Nordeman realized his phone was missing when he arrived at a bus stop.
Fraudulent Charges Followed Within Hours
Nordeman’s father, Tom Nordeman Sr., told NBC10 Philadelphia that Mastercard called about two fraudulent transactions tied to his son’s account. Someone also attempted multiple purchases through Nordeman’s digital wallet, including an $856.95 purchase at GameStop, he said.
Nordeman Sr. said he moved quickly to close the accounts to prevent further charges.
Police are seeking a person of interest in the theft. Investigators described the man seen with Nordeman in the surveillance footage as a white male in his 20s with black hair who went by Ethan, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
Restaurant Owner Calls It Sad
Philly Steak and Pizzeria owner Munawar Chaudhary said the reported theft troubled him and that it was sad to see someone take advantage of Nordeman.
Nordeman said the experience has made him more cautious with strangers. “I'm going to be a lot more careful who I talk to,” he said, explaining that he had hoped to see the goodness in people.
The case echoes another recent Philadelphia robbery in which police said two men lured a woman into stopping near Courtland and 11th streets by pretending their Jeep Compass needed a jump start, then robbed her at gunpoint, according to Fox 29. Police said the suspects in that case fled south on 11th Street, one on foot and the other driving the Jeep, and described both men as Black and around 5 feet 9 inches tall, asking anyone with information to contact Northwest Detectives.
Other Philadelphia safety context
In a separate case, suspects took bags and phones in five robberies between 4:40 a.m. and 6:05 a.m. on Oct. 4 in Northern Liberties, Center City, Spring Garden and North Philadelphia, according to CBS Philadelphia. That reported armed-robbery series is distinct from the Chinatown theft described here. Separately, the Philadelphia Suns and the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation launched a community-led Chinatown Safety Ambassador project in partnership with neighborhood law enforcement, according to the Philadelphia Suns.
How To Help Police
Anyone with information about the theft from Nordeman or the identity of the person of interest is asked to call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-3093, or to leave an anonymous tip at 215-686-TIPS (8477), per a report from NBC10 Philadelphia.
