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Exclusive: Mothers Speak Out After Police Arrest Alleged iPad Thief

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TAMARAC (CBSMiami) – Broward Sheriff's Office deputies said they arrested a teen who snatched an iPad out of the hands of a helpless child sitting inside a Tamarac beauty salon.

Surveillance footage captured the incident unfold at Grace Salon in Tamarac on State Road 7 on Friday, July 24th.

Alejandro Ariza was watching cartoons on an iPad while his mother, Jenny Rincon, a cosmetologist in training, was helping a client.

Suddenly, authorities said, Sapp snatches the iPad from the 4-year-old boy's hands.

Alejandro was not injured in the incident.

The teen's mother, Ericka, who did not want to disclose her last name, said she's appalled and ashamed of what her son is accused of.

"He made his bed. He will lie in it. That's my son. I'm going to stick by him. I'm going to try to see him through, get him the needed help that he needs and then we'll just move from there. And hopefully, maybe next time you see me or him on the news, it'll be for something that's good," she said.

The 4-year-old boy's mother, Jenny Rincon, said she holds no ill will towards the teen, despite her son having nightmares and having to see a therapist to cope with the trauma.

"I forgive him. I believe in Jesus Christ and, in my heart, there's only forgiveness. On the contrary, I'd like to help him. He still has time to change and to become a person who does good things for society," said Rincon.

Authorities said the teen was on probation for another crime when he stole the iPad.

BSO detectives said they were able to identify the thief through anonymous tips that came in to Crime Stoppers of Broward County.

When several tipsters reported his name to Crime Stoppers, Broward Sheriff's Office robbery detectives discovered he was on probation and located him through his probation officer.

The teen is facing one count of strong-arm robbery, a felony and one count of violation of probation.

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