Knifepoint robbery suspect caught by stolen cellphone pings

The suspect of an armed robbery in Brighton is behind bars after the man he robbed helped officers ping his stolen cellphone to the suspect’s location.

Boston police said they were notified of an armed robbery in the area of Strathmore Road in Brighton Friday night and were told that a man had been robbed at knifepoint of his gray Adidas backpack containing a cellphone, personal papers, a wallet, passport and over $400 in cash.

Police said the man assisted officers in “pinging” his cellphone to a home in Brookline that was known to police.

Using the location of the ping and a description of the suspect, Boston police were able to share information with Brookline police who set up a perimeter at the home of 18-year-old Joscard Lucas of Brookline. A Brookline officer saw Lucas throwing property, which was later identified as the property stolen in Boston, out of a window and onto a roof.

Police learned that Lucas also threw the knife he allegedly used in the robbery out of his bedroom window and was arrested and charged with armed robbery and assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

Boston police spokeswoman Rachel McGuire said the use of a remote location-tracking service for cellphones is common, but doesn’t always lead to an arrest as it did in this case.

“If the victim wants to use that (technology) then it’s up to the victim,” she said. “It’s important to note that in this incident it was combined with the officers’ knowledge of the suspect” and the description that was given to police.