Crime & Safety

Sheriff's Officials Investigate Separate iPhone Robberies

A woman running the track at Crescenta Valley High School and two Rosemont Middle School students on the way home from school had iPhones stolen in two separate robberies.

Three iPhone robberies - including one at Crescenta Valley High School and two near Rosemont Middle School - are prompting investigations by Sheriff's officials.  

A 27-year-old woman who ran on the  track was approached by a man who asked to borrow her phone and make a call, according to Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Harley of the . 

The victim dialed the number for him and handed him the phone, Harley told Patch. He then grabbed her phone and ran through the gate at the east end of the track to a waiting black Toyota 4Runner on Altura Avenue, which appeared to be a getaway car driven by a second suspect.

Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The suspect is described as a Latino man, about 18 years old, 5 foot 11 inches and 170 pounds. 

In a separate incident, two Rosemont Middle School students reported they were walking home when a man stole their iPhones on Thursday, Jan. 12, according to Crescenta Valley Weekly

Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A 12-year-old girl walked home with a friend shortly after 3 p.m. near La Crescenta Avenue and El Caminito when someone grabbed her phone from her hands and ran, CV Weekly reported.

At about 3:30 p.m. a 12-year-old boy walking southbound on Rosemont Avenue reported a teenage boy walked behind him, snatched his iPhone and ran westbound on Mayfield Avenue. The victim and other students ran after the suspect but lost him when he ran southbound on La Crescenta Avenue.  

Sheriff's deputies searched for a suspect but have not found him. The suspect is described as 14 to 16 years old, 5 feet 7 to 9 inches, 130 to 150 pounds. Victims said he wore a black t-shirt. One victim said the suspect wore khaki shorts, another victim described him having a black baseball hat and black pants. 

Investigators have not identified the suspects and are still investigating the robberies, Harley said. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Montrose-La Crescenta