Dallas police arrested three suspects yesterday on charges related to a string of recent cell phone robberies in Lake Highlands. The men are also being investigated in cases of packages stolen from porches.
Police had been searching for a silver Pontiac which victims and witnesses identified as the getaway car after people walking in the neighborhood were accosted and robbed of their smartphones. One woman was injured, and a man was badly beaten.
Major Terrence Rhodes, commander of the Dallas Police Department’s northeast division, said the suspects’ vehicle was spotted near Northwest Highway and Shiloh Road. The arrest was made after police gave chase.
Police in surrounding communities have indicated they, too, are investigating recent cell phone robberies. It’s not clear yet if the suspects have also been at work in other neighborhoods, or if additional groups are stealing cell phones in those towns.
The phone thefts have illuminated a powerful motivation, law enforcement officers say, for thieves hoping to make a quick buck. EcoATM kiosks, located just inside the front door at WalMart and emblazoned with “Cash for your phone now” signs, pay up to $200 on the spot.
“I’m just so grateful for our police officers. They’ve been so amazing,” said Beth Arnold, one of the mugging victims. “I feel safe now because of them. Every step of the way, they’ve been perfect.”
