Arrest Made In Girl Scout Phone Theft
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A Ft. Lauderdale teen who reportedly stole a Girl Scout's cell phone while she was selling cookies in front of a store couldn't escape the long arm of the law.
Ft. Lauderdale police said they've arrested a 15-year old they believe was responsible for taking the Samsung Galaxy S3 phone.
The robbery happened last Sunday evening in front of the Riverland Winn Dixie at 3260 Davie Boulevard.
Just after 8 p.m., two males walked up to the Girl Scouts table with cookies on display. Girl Scout Daley Eisenmann said she was sitting at the table, her phone a hand's reach away. She said she had her head down because she didn't feel well.
"A group of juveniles approached their table. While one of the juveniles, who was wearing a white tank top, distracted the girls, the other juvenile reached over the cookies that were sitting on the table, grabbed the phone and then fled from the area," said Ft. Lauderdale police spokeswoman Det. Deanna Greenlaw.
Officers searched the surrounding area after the robbery, but didn't find whoever took Eisenmann's phone.
"I'm just glad I'm safe," said Eisenmann after the robbery.
Eisenmann said she and her best friend were selling the cookies to go to camp and to Savannah, Georgia on another Girl Scout trip.
After reviewing surveillance video from the front of the store, police were able to identify the two teens from previous run-ins with the law.
Police rounded up the pair and determined that one would not be charged at this time. The other teen, who was taken into custody at South Plantation High, confessed to the theft during questioning, according to his probable cause affidavit.
"We see this as your victimizing these children that are here trying to, you know, better themselves and the community and you're going to take something from them," said Greenlaw. "It just doesn't seem right."
The teen has been charged with felony Grand Theft because of the value of the phone.
