Englewood iPhone 'App Robber' Arrested: Police

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — Police arrested a man they said robbed people in recent weeks when he met up with them to sell iPhones.

Joshua Emmanuel, 18, was charged with armed robbery after he and an accomplice worked together to rob people during four incidents last month, said Detective Capt. Timothy Torell. Emmanuel reportedly used letgo.com, and its associated app, and offerup.com to meet up with buyers.

A New York man met with a man April 2 in the parking lot of a Knickerbocker Road apartment complex, the captain said. The buyer gave the man cash, but after seeing that the iPhone 6 was locked, he handed it back to the man and asked him to unlock it; Emmanuel then took the phone and ran off, police said.

A Bergenfield man met with a man in the same general area as the first incident. The men exchanged money and an iPhone 6. The seller then asked the man for a ride home and, after arriving near the 300 block of Howell Road, asked to see the phone to make sure he cleared all of the information from it, Torell said.

The seller took the phone from the man and fled into a nearby condo complex, the captain said.

A woman and man from Manhattan met up with a man on Knickerbocker Road April 15 after connecting through the Letgo.com application, police said.

After exchanging cash and an iPhone, the man told them that he left his SIM card in the phone and took to the phone from the woman and ran off, police said; the man buyer chased him and realized an accomplice was waiting nearby.

The suspects ran through backyards and the victims called 911.

A Guttenberg man met up with a seller April 28 near the Knickerbocker Road apartment complex from the April 2 incident. The seller took out a handgun and robbed the buyer, who gave the man cash, Torell said. The man called 911 and police flooded the area, he said.

The description of the man in all the incidents was very similar: Young and either black or Hispanic with a beard and goatee, police said.

Officer Anthony Gallo heard a description of the suspect and spoke with another man who said he knew someone who fit that description in a condo complex on the 100 block of Glenbrook Parkway, Torell said.

Officers found Emmanuel hiding under a pile of clothing in a closet in one of the condo units; he had a "significant" amount of marijuana on him, packaged for distribution, cash on him from the incident hidden in one of the insoles of his shoes and was clutching two cell phones that were consistent with the iPhones advertised for sale online, Torell said.

Emmanuel and two others, Jeremiah Medina, 19, and a 15-year-old who were in the home were also arrested. Medina was charged with hindering apprehension.

Emmanuel was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and within 500 feet of a public park, along with the armed robbery charge, Torell said.

Media was released under the state's new bail guidelines and was released on a summons. Emmanuel was remanded to the Bergen County Jail until his trial.

Police urge residents to use caution when purchasing items online.

"In light of these recent incidents in our city, we’re urging people who use these types of buy-sell Apps to take certain safety precautions: Avoid going to someone else’s home. Avoid having someone come to your home," Torell said. "Meet people in very public and busy places during daylight hours and never go with someone in their vehicle or give them a ride in yours. You just never know who’s on the other end of an app deal."

Since Emmanuel was arrested, police said similar robberies have not been reported in Englewood, Torell said.

Anyone with information regarding these cases, may qualify for a cash reward through the local CrimeStoppers line at 1-844-466-6789 or they can call detectives at 201-568-4875. Tips can also be submitted through the CrimeStoppers’ website at bergencrimestoppers.org.

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Photos: Joshua Emmanuel, 18, left, and Jeremiah Medina, 19/Background image via Shutterstock