Crime & Safety

Cops: Man Knocks Down Teen, Steals Cell Phone

14-year-old was walking near South Orange Middle School when man allegedly robbed him.

A 14-year-old South Orange boy was knocked to the ground and robbed of his iPhone on Ridgewood Road Sunday afternoon, police said.

The boy was walking near the South Orange Middle School on Sunday at about 2 p.m. when a man described as approximately 20 years old and wearing a red shirt and beige pants got out of a beige four-door car and knocked the teen to the ground, Chief James Chelel said.

The man then took the teen's iPhone and fled west on W. South Orange Avenue, Chelel said. The incident was similar to two recent robberies in Newark, Chelel said, although police are unsure if there is a connection.

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Chelel said the boy's iPhone had an electronic tracking feature, but it was turned off at the time.

"We strongly encourage the use of tracking [features] on any electronic device," Chelel said. He said the police had made "many arrests" stemming from the use of such features.

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Chelel also said the police were not called immediately after the incident. "Never delay in calling," he said.

The detective bureau is investigating the incident.


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