Colorado man loses part of finger in iPad theft

Colorado man loses part of finger in iPad theft (AP)
This image taken from video and released Tuesday, April 20, 2010 by the Denver police shows a suspect wanted for stealing an iPad from a man as he left a Denver mall Thursday, April 15. Bill Jordan says he just purchased Apple's latest must-have item and was near the parking garage when the thief grabbed the bag tied around Jordan's hand. He says the bag wouldn't come off and the thief yanked it so hard that it stripped part of Jordan's pinky down to the bone. Doctors later amputated part of the finger. Denver police were still searching for the culprit Tuesday. (AP Photo/Denver Police)

(AP) -- A thief's thirst for a brand new iPad cost a Colorado man not only a much-coveted device but also two-thirds of a pinky finger.

Doctors had to amputate part of Bill Jordan's left pinky after a man Thursday yanked away a bag containing an iPad that Jordan had just purchased at a Denver mall.

Jordan, 59, had the cord of the bag wrapped around his left hand when the thief "completely blind-sided" him and jerked the bag off his hand, stripping the flesh of Jordan's finger down to the bone.

"He kept pulling until something had to give, and it wound up being my finger," Jordan said in an interview Tuesday.

"There was nothing but bone showing on the whole back of the pinky," Jordan said. "The skin was just gone."

Jordan, of Aurora east of Denver, said he had no idea anyone was following him when he left the at Cherry Creek Mall, and he didn't expect to be robbed of his purchase in broad daylight.

Jordan said he had purchased the for a friend in Canada, where the iPad is not yet available for purchase. He hasn't had a chance to tell his friend yet.

Because the item was heavy, he had wrapped the bag's handle - a thick cord - around his hand.

Jordan said there was also some nerve damage to his ring finger, but they were able to remove his wedding band from the swollen finger without cutting it.

Police were still searching for the Tuesday.

"I certainly hope they catch the guy," Jordan said. "I would hate to think that somebody else would have to go through this."

Denver police have security footage from the scene and have obtained the serial number of the from the Apple store.

As for Jordan, his larger bandages have been removed, and his stitches will be removed Friday.

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