ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County wants to put a stop to cellphone thefts so badly, the sheriff's Organized Crime Unit is on the case.
Two cellphone store owners were recently arrested on charges of trafficking stolen phones.
During a recent robbery investigation the Sheriff's Office Organized Crime Unit received information about Miguel Candelario, a man they said is known to buy and sell stolen phones.
Investigators said he owns a MetroPCS store on Lake Underhill Road and claimed he paid cash to undercover investigators for phones after they told him the phones were stolen.
He was arrested on a warrant Wednesday.
Attaullah Mukati was arrested around the same time.
Investigators said he owns a MetroPCS store on Chickasaw Trail and he also bought phones even after he was told the phones were stolen.
The Sheriff's Office said it's a big problem.
Web developer Alicia Brooks has seen it firsthand after her phone was stolen at a club in downtown Orlando.
"I was at a social media company developing web apps so I had to have my phone for work," Brooks said.
Sheriff's investigators said while robberies are down overall, cellphone robberies and thefts are on the rise and they're working to crack down on people who help fence them.
WFTV
