Police Searching For Suspect In String Of Cell Phone Thefts On Staten Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Staten Island are trying to find a man who they said is wanted for stealing cell phones from at least four people in December.
In each case, police said the suspect asks the victim for the time. When the victim pulls out their phone to check the time, the man grabs the phone and takes off, police said.
The first incident happened on Dec. 2 at My Family Pizza on Victory Boulevard. In that case, police said the suspect also punched the 48-year-old male victim in the face before running off with the man's backpack and Samsung Galaxy cell phone.
The victim suffered bruising and swelling on his face, but refused medical attention.
Two days later, the suspect and another man walked up to a 14-year-old boy at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Low Terrace. After asking the teen for the time, the suspect grabbed the boy's iPhone from his hand and the two fled, police said.
Then on Dec. 15, the man grabbed another iPhone from a 33-year-old woman near Cebera Avenue and Victory Boulevard, police said.
The most recent case happened on Dec. 30 on Saint Pauls Avenue. In that incident, police said the suspect targeted a 33-year-old man, taking off with the victim's iPhone.
Police released surveillance video of the suspect from the first incident on Victory Boulevard.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
