Cell phone store theft investigation moves forward
EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say they have two suspects in the break-in and theft at a cell phone store in Luzerne County. Police say one of the suspects was identified by someone who saw him on a 28/22 news social media post about the break-in.
Video of the break-in at the Boost Mobile store in Edwardsville on Thursday morning shows two men inside the store.
One man was identified by police as 55-year-old Peter Showalter, and law enforcement say break-ins at cell phone stores are increasing nationwide and in our area.
Surveillance video taken inside the Boost Mobile store in the West Side Mall in Edwardsville on Thursday morning. It was 6:30 a.m.
Police say two men broke in and calmly walked around the store, stealing merchandise.
Police say 55-year-old Peter Showalter is the man not concealing his face.
The other suspect, according to police, is believed to be 29-year-old Mailk Smith.
Islam Rabb is an area manager for Boost Mobile.
'What did you think when you saw that?' 28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.
'I was shocked. We really haven't had any issues with break-ins here at this location. It was already 6:30 in the morning, so it wasn't like it was in the middle of the night. Pretty much broad daylight at the time,' Rabb explained.
Showalter was arrested by Wilkes-Barre Police for allegedly stealing the Mercedes Benz that was used in the Boost Mobile break-in.
Investigators tell the I-Team that someone recognized Showalter on a 28/22 News social media post, as well as on the Edwardsville Facebook page, and called police.
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They connected Showalter and Malik Smith to the stolen Mercedes.
Detectives also say that cell phone thefts, both from stores and individuals, are on the rise in northeastern Pennsylvania.
'There's a large market for it. It is becoming more difficult for them to sell phones in that manner, but there's always somebody that going to be willing to buy it,' Rabb added.
Spencer Rappaport is a tech expert and runs a computer store in Edwardsville.
'There's a great market for them. People take them and will replace the IMEI, which is the serial number, basically that identifies them to what carrier that can be used, which service they can put on them,' Rappaport said.
Edwardsville police say Showalter will be charged Monday morning in connection with the Boost Mobile break-in. Malik Smith is considered a suspect.
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