7 teens charged in organized iPhone thefts from Lethbridge mall

Police have charged seven teenagers in the organized theft of iPhones from two stores at a mall in Lethbridge, Alta.

On Friday at 8:30 p.m., a group of five teenagers dressed in winter clothes entered i-World in the Park Place Mall. Nine iPhoneswere stolen from the store in under a minute, police said in an emailed release.

They then left the store and went to Staples in the same mall, where they threatened a staff member and stole two more iPhones, police said.

Witnesses saw the group run through the parking lot, jump afence and run across Highway 3.

Shortly after, they returned to the mall, where they were picked up by a waiting vehicle.

Police followed the vehicle to a parking lot and the teens tried to get away on footbut were taken into custody.

Police said the seven teens arrested were either part of the group that entered the storesor were the lookout or getaway driver.

Eight of 11 stolen cellphones were recovered. The total value of the stolen phones was approximately $13,000, police said.

The ages of the teens, who can't be named under the Youth CriminalJusticeAct, are as follows.

• Two 13-year-old malesfrom Calgary.
• A 14-year-old malefrom Calgary.
• A 17-year-old malefrom Calgary.
• A 15-year-old malefrom Lethbridge.
• A 16-year-old malefrom Lethbridge.
• A 17-year-old malefrom Lethbridge.

Each teen was charged with conspiracy to commit theft over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit robbery.

All have been released from custody. The 13-year-olds are due to appear in court on Tuesday, and the rest will appear in court Nov. 28.

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