August 07, 2016
It is a happy ending for a family visiting Philadelphia from Colombia who had their passports stolen after leaving them behind in a backpack on a SEPTA bus last week.
SEPTA Transit Police Chief Thomas J. Nestel on Saturday offered amnesty to the suspect who took the bag. Then Sunday morning the chief tweeted the plan worked and the missing bag, passports along with a cell phone and jewelry had been returned to police.
And as promised, the man was not arrested, Nestle said.
THE AMNESTY OFFER WORKED! The bag, passports and cell phone were returned last night. I stand by my offer - No arrest. Thanks for the help!
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) August 7, 2016
The woman who lost the bag, identified in several reports as Ximena Estrada, 35, had left the backpack aboard the Route 58 SEPTA bus Thursday. She had told Philly.com she had traveled to the city with her 14-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, and they are scheduled to return to their home in Pereira, Colombia, on Tuesday.
"On Thursday, my trip turned into a nightmare and I was so sad ... But when I got that phone call it was like 'Wow.' I felt so grateful, so grateful."
SEPTA Surveillance cameras recorded the suspect picking up the backpack and then getting off the bus at Bustleton Avenue and Strahle Street in the Rhawnhurst neighborhood of Northeast Philly.
Nestel tweeted a screen capture of the text message Estrada had sent him after learning her important documents and possessions had been recovered.
The text message sent to me by a very happy victim. I love being a police officer. pic.twitter.com/PA3AcJN1Mr
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) August 7, 2016
As the news spread, the praise poured in for the chief.
HA! It's not me. It's great cops & detectives. It's the power of people via Twitter and the media. For today, GO USA https://t.co/NMwjcQTl8r
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) August 7, 2016
A whole lot of people played the important part with tweets and media coverage. A great team effort! https://t.co/JjBz3eOJKD
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) August 7, 2016
Watch 6ABC's report below:
Read more about this story at philly.com and 6abc.com.
