Police: Man Held iPhone Hostage for $40 Ransom

An Allentown man is facing two charges after police say he refused to turn over an iPhone he found at the Rave Cinema in Center Valley without compensation.

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According to a criminal complaint, a young woman accidentally left her iPhone at the Rave Cinema on Sept. 7. When she returned to retrieve it, the phone was no longer there.

When the woman called her phone, a man, later identified as Erick Rosales Rojo, answered. The complaint goes on to say that the man refused to turn the phone over unless the woman paid him $40. He also requested the woman meet him in Allentown to retrieve the phone. 

The victim then contacted Upper Saucon police. Posing as the woman's father, an Upper Saucon officer called the phone and spoke to Rojo. Police say the "father" told Rojo he was in possession of a stolen phone and also stated there was no reward for the phone. The officer offered an address to which Rojo could mail back the phone, to which Rojo allegedly said, "No, I would like some cash for it." 

Police made arrangements to meet Rojo for an exchange at the Rave at 3pm the following day. When police arrived, they located a man matching Rojo's description, then located the phone and arrested Rojo. 

Rojo is charged with:

• Theft of Mislaid or Lost Property
• Receiving Stolen Property