Girls targeted for their cellphones, police say

Girls walking home from their high schools in Coconut Creek were targeted by cellphone robbers in six separate incidents in November, Coconut Creek Police said Tuesday.

A teenager and a young man are being investigated for allegedly stealing cellphones from the girls, ages 15 to 18 — sometimes at gunpoint — and detectives are seeking a third person, Detective Joseph Barreto said.

In the latest incident, on Nov. 29, a 15-year-old girl was approached by a boy who asked to use her $600 Apple iPhone 6 to call his mother, according to police and an arrest report.

He took the cellphone and ran to a gold 2001 Honda Accord at the Olivine at the Township condominium complex, 3800 Coral Tree Circle. The car was being driven by Robert Clark Jr., 18, of Pompano Beach, police said.

That same day, detectives found the Honda in the city and arrested Clark and the boy, 16, who is from Deerfield Beach, the agency said. The Sun Sentinel is not identifying him because of his age.

The 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of grand theft. He has three prior open cases from incidents in the city and is accused of committing two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, three counts of grand theft and simple battery during the cellphone robberies, police said.

The teen is being held in a Broward County juvenile detention center, according to Barreto.

Clark was arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the Nov. 29 grand theft and was also cited for two traffic violations. He was released from jail on bond, Barreto said.

Clark had been driving a Honda owned by his father. A search of the car found the girl’s cellphone, as well as a BB gun registered to Clark’s father, Barreto said.

Clark’s lawyer could not be reached for comment. The 16-year-old’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, did not want to discuss the charges his juvenile client is facing.

Clark is not accused of participating in the earlier robberies that the 16-year-old is accused of, Barreto said.

Police don’t yet know where cellphones taken in the other robberies have ended up.

In an incident on Nov. 21 in the 700 block of Lyons Road, a girl was held at gunpoint and battered for her phone, Barreto said.

“There were two assailants who got into the back of a Honda Accord, which immediately fled,” Barreto said.

“That makes us believe there was a third accomplice involved who remains to be identified.”

Coconut Creek police are asking the public to help find that possible getaway driver, but were unable to provide a description of the person.

The gold 2001 Honda Accord had a Florida license plate, AQF A98.

Barreto said young people should be wary when it comes to their expensive electronics.

“Young female juveniles should be cognizant of their surroundings at all times, and not lend their phones to strangers,” said Barreto, who is working on the cases with Detective Steven James.

The investigators ask anyone with information to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477. The organization accepts anonymous tips and pays up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.