Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 6- The NYPD is asking the public's help in identifying a young tough who has terrorized young women and teens, stealing cell phones and other valuables.

Police officials say the suspect is wanted in connection with at least seven thefts and four attempts in the Allerton, Williamsbridge and Baychester sections of the Bronx.

On October 28, investigators announced that the latest one-man crime spree began on September 25, when the thug stole a cell phone from a 12-year-old girl outside of 1500 Bronxwood Avenue in the Allerton Section.

At 3 p.m. on October 1, a 16-year-old female was robbed of a phone at Bronxwood Avenue and Duncan Street.

At 4 p.m. on October 3, the same individual robbed a 14-year-old female of a phone at Paulding Avenue and East 216 Street in Williamsbridge.

On October 6, a 14-year-old female reported being robbed of a cell phone at 3:45 p.m. at Paulding Avenue and East 211 Street.

Cops say he struck twice on October 7, when he attempted to steal property from a 17-year-old female at 5:35 p.m. at the corner of Barnes Avenue and Boston Road in the Allerton section.

The creep was successful when he stole the phone of a 29-year-old woman a short time later at Barnes Avenue and Tilden Street.

Taking a week off as police beefed up patrols in the 47th and 49th Precincts, the assailant struck again at 8:15 p.m. on October 14, when he stole the phone of a 17-year-old female outside of 881 East Gun Hill Road.

On October 21 at 4 p.m. he attempted to rob the cell phone of a 13 year-old girl at Bartholdi Street and Capuchin Way.

A 15-year-old girl reported the suspect attempted to rob her at 3:30 p.m. on October 23 in front of 3660 Bronxwood Avenue.

A short time later a 23-year-old woman reported an attempted robbery of a phone at Paulding Avenue and East 212 Street.

In the latest incident that took place at 8:30 p.m. on October 26, a 16-year-old female was robbed of a phone at the intersection of East Gun Hill Road and Lurting Avenue.

Police say that in each of the incidents the bandit simulates a gun or knife before stealing his victims property and fleeing. All of the victims were left unharmed.

The thug is described as a black male in his teens. Detectives from the Bronx Robbery Squad continue to re-visit prior locations of incidents in an attempt to acquire a photo of the suspect from area surveillance video.

Officials at Police Plaza say the thug is not the same teen who was captured by surveillance video and was recently placed on an NYPD wanted flyer after recently stealing a cell phone from a victim in confines of the 52nd Precinct.

Police recommend that individuals keep all jewelry concealed, refrain from walking alone whenever possible and  keep cell phones and other electronic devices in a front, inside pocket of a jacket.

Anyone with any information on either suspect is asked to call Crime Stopper's at (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.