ORLANDO, Fla. — Investigators with the Orlando Police Department said in recent weeks they have seen an increase in pickpocketers stealing cellphones in downtown Orlando.
Kelsey McDaniel, a Channel 9 employee, didn't think it could happen to her, but someone stole her and her friend’s cellphone over the weekend near Wall Street Plaza.
“I didn't even think twice about that, and then I went to reach for my phone, either to text someone or just check the time and that's when I realized that mine was gone, too,” McDaniel said.
A spokesperson for Wall Street Plaza management said they regularly work with law enforcement to prevent pickpocketing with a half dozen off-duty police officers patrolling.
Jonathan Mora-Gomez was caught pickpocketing 26 cellphones at the EDC music festival worth $20,000 last month, investigators said.
Police told Channel 9’s Steve Barrett that they have a detective focusing on the rash of crimes happening across downtown Orlando.