Date app meeting results in armed robbery

Berkeley police arrest two adults and two young teenagers

Two adults and two young teenagers were arrested Monday on suspicion of committing a robbery in the apartment home of a UC Berkeley student by using a dating app, police said — the same app that investigators used to catch the group.

An Oakland man and woman, both age 19; a 17-year-old Stockton girl; and a 16-year-old boy whose city of residence wasn't released all are suspected of being involved in the Sunday home invasion robbery, police said. It happened about 1 a.m. in the 2300 block of Prospect Street.

According to court documents, the student arranged on the dating app Tinder to meet the 19-yearold woman at his home. She showed up with the 17-year-old girl, and the three met in front of the student's home.

Berkeley police Officer Byron White said the 19-year-old went into the apartment unit with the student. The teen girl and the two other suspects than entered the apartment and robbed the student at gunpoint, holding him down while they did so, White said.

The suspects took $4,100 in cash and electronics, authorities said. The student declined medical assistance after the incident.

In court documents, police said a search using the suspect's phone number revealed it was associated with an escort service account with her picture attached. Police said the woman's name and photo also were associated with a Cashapp account through which she was paid.

White said investigators used the Tinder app to track down the suspect and arrange a date in the 200 block of Marina Boulevard on Monday. The officers arrived about 3:45 a.m. and found a four-door sedan with four people inside it.

Police then stopped the car and ordered the suspects out of the car at gunpoint. White said officers found stolen property, a BB gun and a loaded handgun inside the vehicle.