A string of cellphone thefts targeting teenage girls has led to the arrest of a Glendale man. Dominic Gonzalez, 28, was apprehended on allegations of stealing from young patrons at a Peoria business, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Gonzalez's acts were captured by surveillance cameras, and subsequent investigations by Peoria Police connected him to at least two incidents earlier this summer near 83rd Avenue and Bell Road.
Caught on tape, Gonzalez was recorded inside the establishment, using his cellphone to record a teenage girl before swiping her phone "right out of her hands," as he fled the scene, said the police in a report detailed by FOX 10 Phoenix. The stolen devices were said to have been unlocked, compromising the victims' personal information. Arrested on Aug. 22, Gonzalez's capture, however, did not recover the stolen cellphones for either victim reported.
Adding to the weight of evidence against him, the authorities discovered clothing matching that of Gonzalez's as seen in the surveillance footage when executing a search of his home. Despite this, the actual cell phones remain unfound. According to the Peoria Police, Gonzalez now faces multiple charges including theft, robbery, and probation violation, detailed in a report by KTAR News.
In light of these events, and given the nature of the crimes, police entertain the possibility that Gonzalez's actions may have affected more individuals than currently known. Authorities are urging the community for assistance, asking anyone who might hold relevant information to contact the Peoria Police Department at 623-773-8992.
