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Prosthetic leg stolen from veteran at Eagles-Giants game

PHILADELPHIA -- Police say a prosthetic leg reported stolen from a veteran in a wheelchair Sunday outside the Eagles-Giants football game in south Philadelphia was later recovered on a subway train.

Sonny Forriest Jr., who is known for singing for fans outside Phillies and Eagles games, told police that he had taken off his prosthetic leg during his performance.

He said he was packing up to leave around 8:30 p.m. Sunday when he was surrounded by a group of women, reports CBS Philadelphia. One of them, who appeared to be in her 20s and was wearing Eagles gear, reportedly took the leg, which was secured to the back of his motorized wheelchair.

"A young lady accosted me," Forriest said, reports the station. "Jumped in my lap, broke my microphone, jumped up and said, 'Oh, I'll pay for it.' Then I said, 'Just leave me alone.' Then I turned my head and turned back around, and she was cutting through the cars and she was running with my leg, and I didn't even know it."

She appeared intoxicated, said Forriest, who is a veteran of the Vietnam War.

"She thought it was fun, I believe," he told the station. "You know, because she was really inebriated."

The incident happened on Forriest's birthday, reports the station.

Police said a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority conductor found the leg at about 1 a.m. Monday at the Olney station in north Philadelphia.

Investigators said they planned to examine transit station surveillance video to try to identify a suspect. They said it appeared that three women took part in the theft.

Police haven't yet identified a suspect, reports the station. They're asking anyone with information to contact them.

"She needs to get down on her knees and pray to God that doesn't happen to her or she doesn't get sick or become disabled," Forriest told the station. "And she should go ahead and use her brain for something more than just a beer bottle or liquor bottle."

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