West Hartford Police Investigating Elaborate Cellphone Theft Ring

WEST HARTFORD, CT – Police are investigating an elaborate theft ring operating in West Hartford, according to a release.

Police said fraudulent cell phone accounts were set up using West Hartford resident’s addresses and personal information, and involved the delivery of multiple iPhones to those addresses. The fraud ring is believed to be based out of Florida and has struck in multiple states.

Some packages were delivered and then stolen by involved parties following the UPS truck, while some were declared delivered by a UPS driver but were not. As a result, at least one UPS driver was determined to be involved and arrested.

Police said UPS is cooperating in the investigation.

West Hartford Detectives conducted a surveillance of two addresses last Thursday, Sept. 22, for an expected fraudulent delivery of iPhones. During this surveillance, a transaction was observed between the UPS driver and two individuals.

All three suspects were subsequently arrested on site.

A total of 122 fraudulent equipment orders (encompassing 360 devices) were shipped to the West Hartford area since May 24 of this year. A total of 216 devices are missing and believed to be stolen, valued at approximately $177,934.

Police said they are attempting to contact the 122 identity theft victims as a result of the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact police immediately.

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