Four De Soto teenagers were arrested Saturday (Nov. 3) after they allegedly tried to collect ransom for a stolen phone. At about 9:41 p.m., a De Soto man called police and reported his phone missing from the De Soto McDonald’s restaurant, 12955 Hwy. 21, Police Chief Jeff McCreary reported.
“After several unsuccessful attempts to call his phone, the suspects called the man and offered to return his phone for $200,” McCreary said.
Road patrol officers and detectives worked with the man to catch the suspects. Following the teenagers’ instructions, the police prepared an envelope to look like it was filled with cash and arranged to exchange the cash for the phone at the McDonald’s.
“After the suspects attempted to pick up what they thought was the envelope with the victim’s cash payment, they were arrested by officers,” McCreary said. “The victim’s cell phone was recovered at the scene.”
The four suspects – three males, two age 17 and one 18, and a female, 17 – “were arrested on a variety of charges including stealing and minor in possession of alcohol.”
McCreary said the theft and ransom of the phone may qualify as a felony, and De Soto Police will apply for charges through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.