Teen Accused Of Stealing iPhone, Pepper Spraying Store Owner: PD

STAMFORD, CT — A 16-year-old girl has been charged after police said she stole an iPhone and pepper sprayed a cell phone store owner on Jan. 20 in Stamford.

The teen was arrested at Bridgeport Juvenile Court on Wednesday, where she made an appearance on a separate criminal matter, police said. She was charged with first-degree robbery and was remanded to juvenile detention.

Police said on Jan. 20, the 16-year-old went to a cell phone store on Stillwater Avenue, took a new iPhone 12 from the counter and left without paying.

The store owner followed the girl into the front parking lot and tried to get the phone back, police said, but a struggle ensued and the teen punched the owner in the face.

"During the assault, the suspect pepper sprayed the victim in the face before fleeing from the area. Video of the suspect was recovered from the store which later led to the suspect’s identification," Lt. Thomas Scanlon said in a news release.

This latest arrest comes during a time when there's been an uptick in juvenile crime, the SPD said. Also this week, a 15-year-old Stamford resident was arrested and charged in connection with a shooting on Hope Street earlier this month.