UPDATE: Shanghai Tokyo Owner Replaces Victim’s Stolen iPhone

The woman robbed of her purse and iPhone in Friday’s strong-armed robbery at at 8300 Baltimore Ave. received a bittersweet surprise earlier this week: a new iPhone, courtesy of restaurant owner Joe Chen.

The gift comes after an unidentified male approached the woman—sitting quietly in a corner of the restaurant with headphones in—and .  The robbery occurred around 4 p.m.   

Restaurant spokesman David Baker says Chen bought the iPhone for the victim as a way to demonstrate his loyalty to customers.

“Joe’s motto is ‘no customer, no business,’” Baker said in an e-mail to Patch.  “I think his very generous act proves it’s more than a cutline for him!”

Baker added no new developments have occurred in the case. 

The suspect was caught on the restaurant’s cameras, which show a man with a light-colored shirt and dark pants entering Shanghai Tokyo. 

“Nothing like this has ever happened to us since we opened our doors last year, and we are currently reviewing our security procedures to ensure it won’t happen again” Chen said in a statement sent to Patch on Sunday.  “We obviously cannot control the criminal element, but we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of our most valued customers.”

The suspect has not yet been arrested.  Police ask anyone with information to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s District I R.S.T. Unit at 301-599-2601, or the Crime Solvers at 866-411-8477.  A text message saying “PGPD”  to  CRIMES (274637) is another way to submit information about the crime.

Police are offering a reward to anyone who can lead the police to the suspect.