Ceres Police have released surveillance photos taken of a man being sought for stealing three cell phones on Thursday from the T-Mobile store at 1560 E. Hatch Road.
According to Ceres Police Department spokesman Lt. Chris Perry, the Hispanic suspect walked into the store at approximately 12:11 p.m. and made off with two iPhones and an iPad AIR worth $2,150. The theft came when the man, who identified himself as Junior, was asked to sign-in for service. The suspect initially inquired about purchasing two Samsung cell phones. When the suspect was told he needed an identification card to purchase phones, he became upset and said, "Thanks for nothing." The suspect then asked employees, "What if I had a gun?" They replied that even if he had a gun, they could not unlock the cables securing the telephones. The man then removed a pair of green handled pliers from his pocket and cut the cables to remove them and walk out of the store.
No firearm or vehicle seen.
The man was described as Hispanic with facial hair around his mouth and chin along with a short haircut. He was wearing dark, black baggy jeans, white or light grey NFL Broncos football hooded sweatshirt with the word "Broncos" on the front and black sport shoes. He was described as being 5-foot-6, being in his late 20's and weighing approximately 170 to 180 pounds. He was wearing prescription glasses with a black frame and had a tattoo on the top of his right hand, possibly an X.
Police believe the suspect was involved in other similar cell phone robberies including a May 7 theft at the Cricket Wireless at1530 E. Hatch Road where cell phones were taken in a similar method.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Ceres Police Dispatch at 538-5712 or Detective Bryan Ferreira at 538-5616.
Police seek man who stole phones from store