A youth has been charged in a series of iPhone robberies at a Burnaby SkyTrain station.
All the robberies followed a similar pattern, according to the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, who announced the charges in a news release Thursday.
Individuals who had advertised a newer model iPhone for sale were contacted by an individual claiming to be interested in purchasing it, the release said.
At the would-be buyer's request, the parties met at or near the Edmonds SkyTrain station in Burnaby, police said.
But once the seller arrived, a young person quickly grabbed the phone out of their hands and fled.
Through an investigation, Transit Police was able to link all the robberies to one individual, according to the release.
The youth, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has now been charged with four counts of robbery.
The suspect has been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for April 22.
“When conducting person-to-person exchanges in a public place, whether purchasing or selling items from online marketplaces, it is recommended to choose locations that are well-lit, commonly travelled and potentially monitored by surveillance cameras," Transit Police Const. Travis Blair said in the release. "If possible, bring a friend with you, and be aware of your surroundings at all times."
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