Brazen robberies near CSUN targeting cellphone sellers, police warn

NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A series of robberies near California State University, Northridge have been targeting people looking to sell cellphones, according to police.

CSUN police said two robberies happened in broad daylight Sunday. One happened at Zelzah Avenue and Superior Street after the victim met three suspects to sell his cellphone.

Authorities said he was threatened by a suspect claiming to have a gun while another suspect grabbed his phone and ran away.

The second robbery that took place on Sunday only involved a single suspect, officials stated.

"Very brazen act, they're willing to do it in (the) open, they're willing to do it in daylight. This is very concerning," Capt. Fred Fernandez said.

Another robbery happened at about 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday after a woman met a man to sell him a cellphone at Lindley Avenue and Lassen Street.

Police said the man punched the woman in the face as he tried to grab the cellphone.

"It like scares us. Like what could be happening? Anyone could do that to us. So it's scary. Like we need to be very careful about the things we do or who we sell things," CSUN student Patricia Murcia said.

To be safe, police urged sellers to meet prospective buyers at the police station.

If you have any information about the robberies, you were urged to call the CSUN Police Department's Investigations Unit at (818) 677-2111.