Yes, I was indeed staying in the Sonder Lambert near Chinatown. It was a great place aside from the difficulty in getting an Uber from there back to the airport, which led me to try getting one in a sketchy area. I don't have five hands either, but my legs certainly helped block her attempts to steal my luggage. I'm glad I was able to keep my wits about me and retain almost all of my belongings. And I truly enjoyed my time in the city before that happened...
I feel quite bad for your friend. NYC is one of those cities I would love to visit someday...but knowing that I will have to be extra-vigilant if I go there isn't encouraging.