Police are searching for an iPhone robber who was briefly caught in a subway turnstile as bystanders helped to trap him before he was able to wriggle out and flee. 

The robber approached a man on board a southbound R train at Canal Street at about 5:55 p.m. Friday, June 22, and punched and pushed him before stealing the phone, police said. 

Surveillance video shows the alleged robber being trapped in a subway turnstile as bystanders locked him in. He was eventually able to free himself and run away.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

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