Crime & Safety

Police Investigate Theft of iPhones from Peninsula Employees

As many as five random businesses have been hit by the same suspect in the past week.

South San Francisco police are searching for a man they say has entered as many as five random businesses and stolen employees' iPhones.

Since Wednesday, the suspect has gone into a furniture store, dental offices and an auto dealership posing as a customer, according to South San Francisco police.

He identified himself as Mike or Michael and engaged employees in long conversations, sometimes telling them he recently inherited a large sum of money, police said.

Find out what's happening in Foster Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the employees were distracted, the man stole electronics from their desks, police said.

The same suspect is believed to have stolen five iPhones and one iPad from employees at businesses in South San Francisco and Burlingame, police said.

Find out what's happening in Foster Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He was described as a white man between 25 and 30 years old, around 6 feet 2 inches tall with shaggy brown hair. Investigators believe he might have recently shaved his head. He has been seen wearing a T-shirt with a "LRG" brand logo on the front.

Video surveillance photos of the suspect can be seen on the city of South San Francisco website at: http://www.ssf.net/index.aspx?NID=1017.

Anyone who thinks they might have been the victim of a similar crime or who may have information about the suspect is asked to contact South San Francisco police Detective Mike Garcia at (650) 877-8916.

Also on Patch:

Solid Employment in San Mateo County: Latest Jobs Report

Foster City's Slingbox Tantalizes Techies at Trade Show

Where Does Mohair Come From?


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.