Cell Phone Sale Goes Bad In Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE – Police are requesting the public’s help in identifying the suspect seen in the photos and surveillance video below in connection to a robbery that occurred on Thanksgiving Day.

Just before 4pm on Thursday, November 23, police say a 17-year-old male met with the suspect in order to buy a cell phone from him after using the “Let Go” app. The two met in the vicinity of Livonia and Snediker Avenues. When the two agreed on a price for the cell phone, the suspect handed the victim a cell phone box.

When the victim opened the box, instead of a phone inside, he found a bar of soap. The suspect then placed his hand inside his jacket pocket and motioned as if he had a gun. He then demanded the victim’s cell phone and money. The victim complied and the suspect then fled south on Snediker Avenue.

Police describe the suspect as a black male, approximately 18- to 20-years-old, 5′ 8″ and 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black and gray hooded sweater, a black coat, dark colored jeans, and black and gray sneakers.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.