'Not A Smart Criminal': Suspected iPhone Thief Takes Incriminating Selfies
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Police are asking for the public's help Monday in identifying a man suspected of stealing an iPhone from a West Hollywood-area business - and then uploading photos of himself online.
The suspect entered the appliance store along the 600 block of La Brea Avenue last Saturday around 2:30 p.m., CBS2/KCAL9's Greg Mills reported.
Upon entering the store, the suspect spotted on an iPhone 6 on a lower counter, casually picked it up, and left.
And it was all captured on the store's security camera video. As Mills reports, the suspect in the footage appeared to know exactly where he was going.
"Maybe he saw it from the window," said the victim, who asked to only be identified as Alex.
Alex says the suspect stole his iPhone and its case - which contained his wallet, credit cards, and cash - while he and two co-workers were in the back of the store.
"I come back to my desk and noticed my phone is missing, so I tell my colleagues, 'What happened to my phone? I could've sworn I left it on my desk'," he said.
They searched the store, but the phone was nowhere to be found. It was only when they checked the security cameras did they discover what happened and called police.
A few hours later, while checking his iPad, Alex was shocked to find three selfies had been uploaded to his iCloud account - selfies, he believes, of the guy who stole his phone.
Alex said that while he was impressed with the clarity of the pictures, he was far less impressed with the suspect's alleged criminal skills.
"Amateur," he said. "Definitely not a smart criminal."
A short time later, Alex says the iCloud account had been disconnected.
But he says he still hopes someone will be able to identify the man seen in the photos and calls the LAPD.
