The Boston Police Department is alerting the community to a recent increase in cell phone robberies in the Downtown area, including two incidents this week that resulted in arrests and a third that remains under active investigation.
Downtown Crossing
At about 10:14 a.m. on Monday, July 20, officers assigned to District A-1 responded to a report of a robbery in progress at a business in the 600 block of Washington Street. Investigators learned that the victim was standing at the register with her cell phone in hand when a suspect approached and pulled the phone from her hand before fleeing the store on foot toward Tremont Street. The victim declined medical attention.
Officers located a woman matching the suspect’s description in the area of Washington and Summer Streets later that afternoon and took her into custody without incident. The suspect, a juvenile, is being charged out of Boston Juvenile Court with Unarmed Robbery.
South Station
At about 2:28 p.m. that same day, an officer responded to a report of a larceny in progress at a business on Summer Street. Investigators learned that the victim had his cell phone taken from his hand by a suspect who then fled on foot toward South Station. Security staff recovered a knife nearby that surveillance footage showed the suspect discarding before taking the phone.
The responding officer located a group matching the suspects’ description on the commuter rail platform at South Station and requested additional units. Officers from District A-1 and Transit Police responded and took a suspect into custody. The suspect, identified as Dae-Quan Jatae Davis, 25, of Boston, was found in possession of a cell phone matching the description of the one taken from the victim. Davis was transported to Nashua Street Jail and is being charged out of Boston Municipal Court with Unarmed Robbery. A records check revealed an outstanding warrant against Davis out of Boston Municipal Court on charges of receiving stolen credit cards, credit card fraud, receiving stolen property, and identity fraud.
Tremont Street
Detectives from District A-1 are investigating a separate assault and robbery that occurred between approximately 12:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, outside a tavern in the 250 block of Tremont Street. The victim reported that he had stepped outside to call for a rideshare when an unknown suspect struck him and took his cell phone. The victim further reported that the suspect used the stolen phone to make unauthorized transactions through a mobile payment application, open a credit account in the victim’s name, and make unauthorized withdrawals from his bank account, totaling an undisclosed amount. No suspect description is currently available. Anyone with information is urged to contact District A-1 Detectives at (617) 343-4571.
Protecting Yourself and Your Information
The Boston Police Department urges residents and visitors to remain vigilant while in public, particularly in busy commercial and transit areas, and to take the following precautions:
- Keep your phone secured in a pocket or bag rather than in your hand when possible, especially in crowded areas.
- Enable a strong passcode, Face ID, or fingerprint lock, and avoid entering your passcode where it can be observed by others.
- Turn on “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device” so your phone can be tracked or remotely locked and wiped if stolen.
- Set up multi-factor authentication on financial apps, email, and mobile payment platforms such as Apple Pay, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal.
- Avoid storing card numbers or banking passwords directly in unsecured notes or messaging apps.
If Your Phone Is Stolen
- Contact your cell carrier immediately to suspend service and prevent unauthorized use.
- Use “Find My iPhone,” “Find My Device,” or a similar service to remotely lock or erase the device.
- Change the passwords for your Apple ID or Google account, email, and any financial or mobile payment apps linked to the phone.
- Contact your bank and credit card companies to report potential fraud and request new cards if necessary.
- Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus if you believe your financial information may have been compromised.
- File a police report with the Boston Police Department so the incident can be documented and investigated.
Community members who wish to provide information anonymously regarding any of these incidents may do so through the following channels:
Phone: 1-800-494-TIPS (8477)
Text: Text the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463)
Online: Boston Police CrimeStoppers Website
Photos and videos related to these investigations may also be submitted anonymously. The Boston Police Department strictly safeguards the identities of those who wish to provide information confidentially.