Phone number man had woman dial before robbery helps police find him

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The phone number a man had a woman dial on her cellphone before robbing her helped police find him since it belonged to the alleged thief.

Police said Norman Jack drove up beside his victim’s vehicle and asked to use her cellphone. When she dialed the number, he grabbed her phone and the victim saw Jack had a gun in his hand.

When Jack demanded her purse and money, she asked him why he was doing this. He allegedly told her that he had children and times were tough.

"I have a kid and I'm having tough times, (but) I'm certainly not gonna rob or steal from anybody," Jody Hirst of North Huntingdon said.

Officials said the victim offered to help Jack by taking him to a church or getting him help, but he wouldn’t back down.

Jack stole the victim’s purse, but police were able to quickly after the woman gave them a good description of his vehicle and found that the number Jack had her dial was his own.

Cox Media Group