Man Used Cellphone App to Set Up Robberies: Suffolk Police

A 30-year-old Wyandanch man used a cellphone app to make contact with people who were selling merchandise and then robbed them of their possessions, police said.

Tyriek Coleman was arrested on Monday and charged with third degree robbery, third degree attempted robbery and third degree criminal possession of stolen property.

According to police, Coleman used a fictitious name and a Letgo account to contact sellers of high end watches and jewelry three times between May 13 and May 29.

Coleman contacted a seller of a men’s Breitling watch valued at $5,000 on May 13 and when he met the man, Coleman sprayed him with mace and fled with the watch, police said.

On May 23, Coleman met with a man who was selling a diamond ring, valued at $3,000, and used deception to steal the ring and flee, police said.

On May 29, Coleman made arrangements to meet with another seller of a Breitling watch, worth $12,500 and, upon meeting the seller, Coleman sprayed him with mace and attempted to take the watch, but the seller resisted and Coleman fled empty-handed, police said.

Coleman was held overnight at the First Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip.

The investigation is continuing and anyone with information about any other incidents involving Coleman is asked to contact the First Squad at 631-854-8152.