T-Mobile Phone Theft


Glendale police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted for several thefts of cellphones at local businesses.

On April 14 at 7:45 p.m. a suspect entered the T-Mobile store at the Glendale Galleria. The suspect held a shopping bag and clothing in his hand, selected a display iPhone 7 and left the store. The phone had been disconnected by unknown means from the security tether, according to a Glendale Police Dept. report.

Detectives believe this is the same suspect responsible for similar thefts from Radio Shack stores in San Diego going back to 2014, including a prior incident in Glendale on March 19, 2015, according to Tahnee Lightfoot, spokeswoman for GPD.

San Diego NBC 7 reported the suspect, with a similar description to that of the Glendale suspect, is thought to be responsible for at least three burglaries at local Radio Shack stores in the San Diego area.

According to the report, investigators described the suspect’s “modus operandi is the same in each case.” The suspect enters the store, asks the sale representative to show him a “demo” iPhone on display. When the sales representative is distracted the suspect takes the phone and exits the store. The San Diego burglaries occurred between Feb. 16, 2014 and March 11, 2014.

The male suspect is described as Hispanic in his 30s, 5’9” to 5’10” tall and weighing 180 to 200 pounds. He was also wearing glasses during the thefts.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect and the thefts is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Dept. at (818) 548-4911.