15 Stolen Phones Recovered After Series of Thefts In West Hollywood

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA — Authorities recovered 15 stolen phones in West Hollywood Saturday night, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, West Hollywood Station.

Deputies made two arrests for grand theft in connection with the phones recovered Saturday, according to the West Hollywood Station. The department recovered 17 phones in total, two of which belonged to the people arrested, authorities said. Five of the recovered phones were returned to their owners.

Authorities and businesses alike have warned West Hollywood visitors of pickpocketing in recent months, KTLA reported. In June, authorities estimated pickpocketing had more than doubled since 2019, KTLA reported.

Many people have taken to social media saying their phones were stolen in recent months at a number of West Hollywood bars, especially during Pride celebrations.

Deputies were patrolling West Hollywood bars on foot Saturday night when they saw a man who resembled a pickpocket from recent incidents on Santa Monica Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard, according to the department.

He was with a woman, who deputies saw throw a cell phone behind a dumpster, authorities said. The two were detained and eventually arrested for grand theft.

Authorities will investigate whether Saturdays arrests were connected to earlier incidents in the city.