A Madison woman was robbed while riding a bus downtown early Friday afternoon.

The victim, a Hispanic female, 24, was texting on her iPhone on one of the Madison Metro buses at 1:47 p.m., according to a Madison Police Department statement. When the bus arrived at the stop on Frances Street and University Avenue, another passenger on the bus grabbed the victim’s cellphone and got off the bus and ran away, the statement said.

The victim described the suspect as a black male in his early 20’s and with a height between 5’0″ and 5’2″, the statement said. He was reportedly wearing a black jacket and purple hooded sweatshirt with black jeans at the time of the robbery.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the robbery was unusual because it occurred in front of all the passengers on the bus and the bus driver and added that he cannot recall another incident of a victim being robbed while riding a bus through the downtown area.

“It is somewhat common for there to be issues at any of the four transfer points throughout the city,” Verveer said. “However, Madison Metro has few issues on their buses in the campus and downtown areas.”

Verveer said the incident could have happened on any bus anywhere in the city. However, he said the incident was most likely a crime of opportunity. It is possible the suspect felt the activity of the downtown area would provide an easier getaway, he said.

Verveer added the number of robbery incidents targeting cellphones have been on the rise in the city recently. High-end cellphones are very attractive to criminals, he noted.

The statement cautioned residents to be aware of their surroundings and suspicious people, as well as who they show their cellphone to.