Police: Man Posing as Employee Takes Nearly $50,000 In Cell Phones

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Police in Sandy Springs are working to track down the suspect accused of stealing close to $50,000 in cell phones from Target stores.

Police say that at 9:25 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, the man walked into Target on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs and approached the customer service desk.

The suspect reportedly asked for keys to the Target Mobile locker. According to police, since he was wearing a black polo shirt and khaki pants, -- the attire for Target Mobile employees -- he was given keys to the lockers.

The man, who said his name was Darin, also said it was his first day on the job at the Sandy Springs store and asked to be escorted to where the locker was located, the agency said in its summary.

The suspect then pulled out a duffel bag and allegedly placed 26 cell phones -- worth nearly $18,000 -- inside the bag. He then put on a gray sweatshirt he was carrying, returned the key to the customer service desk and left the store.

While allegedly in the locker area, the suspect was on a cell phone as if he was being directed by someone on which phones to take, according to police.

Surveillance cameras captured the suspect leaving the store in a newer model, two-door vehicle -- possibly a Nissan Altima or Infiniti.

Sandy Springs police say the same suspect went to Target located within the Atlantic Station development on Oct. 3 and allegedly stole close to $30,000 in cell phones using the same tactic.

Following his alleged crime in Sandy Springs, he returned to the Atlantic Station store and tried to pull off the same operation.

However, police say his request for the keys to the locker was denied and he left the scene before police arrived at the store.

Investigators believe the suspect seems to be familiar with the practices of Target and knows the names of store and district managers.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective S. Ortega at 770-551-6949.

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Photo 1: The suspect leaving the Sandy Springs Target
Photo 2: The alleged getaway vehicle the suspect uses to leave the scene.
Photo 3: The suspect allegedly committing the burglary at the Target in Atlantic Station.
Photo credits: Sandy Springs Police Department