Preshious D. Berry (PHOTO: Richmond Police)
RICHMOND, Va. — A Richmond woman is behind bars after allegedly stealing a woman’s iPhone and attempting to sell it to an undercover officer at the city jail.
Richmond police said 19-year-old Preshious D. Berry, of the 300 block of Calhoun Street, was arrested around 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the Richmond City Justice Center. She was charged with grand larceny and possession of marijuana.
Officers said Berry tried to sell a stolen iPhone to an undercover detective at the jail who was posing as the victim’s boyfriend.
Police said when the victim discovered her smartphone was missing she called the phone. The woman who answered told her that she would have to cough up $80 if she wanted the device back.
That’s when the victim called police. One officer from the Fourth Precinct posed as the woman’s boyfriend, dialed the cell again and agreed to pay the money to get the phone back. The pair arranged to meet up at the Richmond City Justice Center.
When the plain-clothed detective asked Berry if the phone was stolen and she wanted to sell it back, she said yes. That’s when she was arrested and police said she confessed to the scheme. During her arrest, police said Berry was also carrying marijuana.
“Considering the location of the meet – they only needed to cross the parking lot to the Justice Center intake to complete the arrest,” the department posted on its Facebook page.
