Crime & Safety
Updated: 3 Arrested, 1 At Large In String of Radio Shack Robberies
The suspects stole about 400 cell phones from Radio Shacks, an AT&T store and a Verizon store.
By Gary Jeanfaivre
In what was the culmination of a five-month investigation involving the FBI and police from eight towns, authorities announced today the arrest of three individuals who allegedly robbed hundreds of cell phones from local electronic stores.
A fourth suspect remains at large, police said. It is expected that he'll be in custody soon.
The robbery spree started on Jan. 27 and lasted through May 16. During that time, the suspects stole about 400 cell phones from Radio Shacks and an AT&T store and a Verizon one, in the following towns:
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- Orange
- New Haven
- Trumbull
- East Haven
- Hamden
- Wallingford
- Clinton
- New Britain
Robert Lawlor, Det. Sgt. with the New Haven Police Department, said it was after the third robbery in Hamden that authorities realized these weren't isolated incidents — given the similar descriptions of the suspects and their "M.O."
Lawlor said the suspects were selling the smart phones on the street, and that police have recovered very few of them.
Charged are:
Lorraine Nicole Outlaw, 20, of Bridgeport, on charges from Orange Police of second-degree robbery, first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. He was held on a $500,000 bond.
Forenza Rakeem Murphy, 21, of Bridgeport, on charges from Orange Police of second-degree robbery, first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. He was held on a $500,000 bond.
Michael Salvatore Carbonell, 22, of New Haven, on charges from Clinton Police of second-degree robbery, first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery, and unlawful restraint. He was held on a $250,000 bond.
Still at large is Demetrius Wilkes, 22, of an unknown address. He's wanted by Trumbull Police on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree larceny.
Authorities say several additional warrants for these individuals are pending.
Police from the eight towns along with Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spent five months on the case and tied together nine robberies and two attempted robberies. Seven of the robberies were perpetrated at Radio Shack stores. Two others were perpetrated at an AT&T store and a Verizon store.
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