Man Snatches Phone, Lottery Ticket From Victim In Sandy Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The Sandy Springs Police Department is asking for help to identify a man accused of taking a victim's cell phone and lottery ticket outside a convenience store.

The robbery, which police have characterized as a "strong-arm" incident, was reported around 11 p.m. March 8 at the Citgo station at 5645 Roswell Road.

According to an incident report released by the agency, the victim said he purchased a Georgia Lottery scratch-off ticket and stepped outside to see if the $5 he spent would pay off.

The victim told police he placed his iPhone on the trash can outside next to the entrance and began to scratch off the ticket.

At that moment, a subject approached him and said, "give me your iPhone," the report states. The perpetrator snatched the phone from the trash can, took the victim's lottery ticket, got into a black Jeep and left the store.

The Jeep was last seen driving north on Roswell Road towards Interstate 285.

The victim described the subject as a black male between 25 and 30 years old, about 5'6'' to 5'7'' tall and weighing between 190 and 200 pounds. Surveillance footage released by Sandy Springs police shows the man was wearing light blue "skinny" jeans, a light-colored T-shirt and beige boots. He also appears to have short hair, a beard and ear piercings.

According to the report, the perpetrators fled the scene with two men who were inside the Jeep, one of which was wearing a camouflage shirt and black pants.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jon Williams at 770-551-3296 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.

Screenshots from surveillance video released by Sandy Springs police