A 15-year-old boy from Brampton is now facing a slew of criminal charges after reportedly engaging in a series of cell phone thefts during transactions arranged through Facebook Marketplace, where he allegedly tricked unsuspecting sellers.
According to the Peel Regional Police (PRP), authorities responded to a series of theft reports that surfaced during the months of September and October, showcasing a concerning trend of individuals meeting a male suspect to sell their smartphones, only to become victims of theft.
The officers revealed that the suspect, operating under the alias “David Paul,” utilized Facebook Marketplace to orchestrate these buy-and-sell rendezvous, targeting vulnerable sellers in the process.
During the exchanges, he would purportedly request to examine the victim’s phone, only to make a hasty escape with the device. In at least one alarming incident, the suspect displayed a knife while verbally demanding the phones from his victims, though fortunately, no physical injuries were reported in connection with these encounters.
On Oct. 19, in a twist of fate, the suspect attempted to steal another victim’s phones but was thwarted this time as the victim managed to detain him until the police arrived at the scene, leading to his apprehension.
The identity of the accused remains undisclosed per the guidelines of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, yet he has been charged with theft and assault following his arrest. However, the investigation did not conclude there; authorities soon linked him to at least eight additional theft incidents of a similar nature.
In an effort to gather more evidence, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Brampton on Oct. 23, where they brought forth further charges against the youth, which now includes six counts of theft under $5,000.
The charges against him have yet to be tested in a court of law, and investigators believe the young suspect may have collaborated with various accomplices in several of the thefts. Unfortunately, information regarding these individuals remains scarce, and they are still at large.
Authorities are urging anyone who might possess additional information regarding the incidents to reach out to them directly at 905-453-2121, ext. 2133, or to provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
