Smartphone Bandit Calls Store Salespeople "Racist" to Gain Access to Phones

Smartphone Bandit Calls Store Salespeople “Racist” to Gain Access to Phones

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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Police Department from the Topanga area are seeking the public’s help to identify the suspect who has committed multiple grand thefts in the San Fernando Valley. On Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at around 12:25 p.m. the male suspect went into the Boost Mobile Store located in the 19700 block of Vanowen Street in the City of Winnetka.

The suspect described as a black male adult asked for a salesperson to show him the new iPhone, but the salesperson told him to look at the display models. The suspect then accused the salesperson of not showing him the actual phone because she was racist. Concerned about the racist label the salesperson showed him an actual iPhone and the suspect then reached and grabbed several phones and left the business.

Hours later at around 2:50 p.m. the suspect went into a cell phone business located in the City of Oxnard and stole an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S8. The suspect is described as 22-28 years old, 5’11” tall, and 150-170 pounds. He has short black hair.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Topanga Area Detective Abbinanti at 818-756-5848. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.