Police, helicopter chase phone thief

Palo Alto police said the suspect, described as a thin black man age 16-25, approached a pedestrian at about 5:51 p.m. and asked to borrow a cellphone, the Palo Alto Daily News reported Thursday.

However, the suspect pocketed the phone and rode away on a bike that investigators said they believe was stolen earlier.

Palo Alto police Agent Max Nielepko said an officer lost track of the suspect during a foot chase and officers from Los Altos and Mountain View police department joined the search and a Santa Clara County sheriff's helicopter that was already in the area provided assistance.

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