Robbery Suspect Snapped Selfies Using Stolen Cell Phone: Police

A female suspect allegedly punched and robbed a high school student earlier this month in El Cerrito, and police are asking for help in identifying her based on a selfie she took with the victim’s cellphone.

Police said a girl who attends El Cerrito High School was walking east on Central Avenue near Clayton Avenue at 12:42 p.m. on Nov. 5 and was talking on her cellphone when the incident occurred.

A vehicle carrying five suspects pulled up alongside the student and a female suspect exited it to confront the victim, police said. The suspect demanded that the girl forfeit her cellphone and her backpack. When the victim refused, the suspect punched her in the head, causing her to lose consciousness, police said. She was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Police said the suspect took the victim’s belongings and fled in the vehicle. 

The victim has since notified police of several selfies taken on her phone that were uploaded into her online cloud storage account. The victim recognized the person as her assailant, police said. Police released one of the photos and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call El Cerrito police at (510) 215-4400.

By Bay City News

Photo provided by El Cerrito Police