EVERETT – Detectives with the Property Crimes Unit continue investigating the theft and online sales of iPhones in Everett.
At about 6:30 a.m. on November 6th, officers were dispatched to the UPS shipping facility at 923 100th St SE on the report of a theft after employees were observed putting stolen iPhones and customer packages into their personal vehicle. On arrival, officers were told by corporate security that since the end of October, over 30 cell phones had been stolen from their location with a value between $20,000 and $30,000. Many of the phones were the new iPhone X, several older iPhone versions, and Samsung Galaxy phones. Officers contacted the two employees and recovered an iPhone, two T-Mobile phones and additional shipping boxes from the vehicle. Both employees were arrested, interviewed by a Property Unit detective, and released pending further investigation.
During the following investigation, detectives learned that stolen iPhones were being sold on Offerup.com and arranged to buy one this afternoon. As detectives waited to make the purchase, one of the suspects arrested on November 6th came to the meeting location. He was arrested with stolen phones and illegal drugs in his possession. During the interview, the suspect admitted to stealing 14-15 phones from his work and selling them online.
Due to the confession and illegal drugs, detectives booked the 24 year-old Everett man into the Snohomish County Jail on probable cause for the crimes of theft, trafficking stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.
The case remains under investigation.
News Releases are located at: www.everettwa.gov/EPDNews
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