Port Chester Man, 18, Charged in iPhone Theft at Theater

A trip to a Friday night movie did not have a happy ending for an 18-year-old Port Chester man.

As he walked out of a movie showing, Port Chester Police say Anthony Brooks of 42 Leonard St. was arrested in connection with the theft of a cell phone from another patron at the AMC Loews Port Chester, 40 Westchester Ave. Lt. James Ladeairous said village officers charged Brooks after viewing security video at the theater.

A 25-year-old Greenwich, CT, man told police at about 8:33 p.m. on Friday that someone had taken his $650 iPhone. He told police that he had the phone as he went to a concession stand, and had put the phone down on the counter as he purchased snacks.

The Greenwich man turned away from the concession stand without picking up his phone, and when he turned back to get the phone it was gone.

Ladeairous said Port Chester Police Officer Christopher Ceccarelli reviewed the theater's security video and found the segment in which the theft of the phone could be seen. Although the man seen in the video was no longer in the concessions area, Ladeairous said Ceccarelli checked the completion times of the movies that were showing and he went back to the theater later with several other village officers.

As one of the movies got out, Ladeairous said Brooks was spotted and he matched the person seen in the security video. When questioned, Brooks was found with the stolen iPhone, Ladeairous said.

Brooks is charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and faces a hearing in Port Chester Village Court.