Your new iPhone never arrived? Everett police might know why

Published 1:30 am Friday, November 10, 2017

EVERETT — An Everett man is under investigation after he allegedly admitted stealing more than a dozen cellphones at the UPS shipping facility where he worked in south Everett, and then selling them online.

The man, 24, was arrested Thursday for investigation of theft, trafficking in stolen property and drug possession, Everett officer Aaron Snell said in a press release.

Property crimes detectives began investigating after police were called Monday evening to the shipping center in the 900 block of 100th Street SE. Officers were told that some employees had been seen putting stolen iPhones and customer packages in their vehicles.

Corporate security told police that since the end of October, more than 30 cellphones had been stolen, and their combined value was upwards of $20,000. Many of the missing phones were the new iPhone X, but there also were older versions of the iPhone and other brands.

Police approached two suspect employees and recovered an iPhone and two other cellphones, plus shipping boxes, Snell said.

The employees were arrested, interviewed by a detective and released pending additional investigation.

Detectives learned the stolen phones were being sold online on Offerup.com. They arranged to buy one Thursday and went to the meet-up.

One of the suspects who had been detained Monday showed up to make the deal, Snell said.

The man reportedly was carrying stolen phones and drugs.

After his arrest, he was interviewed by detectives and allegedly admitted stealing up to 15 phones and selling them online.

The investigation continues.