Clerks zip-tied, dozens of iPhones taken in Sprint store robbery

HOMESTEAD — A Sprint store at the Waterfront in Homestead was robbed at gunpoint Friday morning.

The three employees inside were zip-tied, while the gunmen shouted orders.

Police told Channel 11 that three men are being sought in the robbery, which was reported about 10 a.m. The first person is identified as a black male in his early 20s, medium build, approximately 5'7" with a scruffy beard. The second is a black man in his late 20s, early 30s, medium to dark skin tone, medium to heavy build.

It's unclear if the suspects were after the new iPhone 8 or one of the older versions.

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Police said one man went in through the store’s front door.

"He told the clerks to lock the door, then went to the rear of the store and opened the back door and let another person in," Chief Jeff DeSimone, with the Homestead Police Department, said.

The gunmen then started yelling commands at the three women working in the store

"'Get down on the floor' and 'How do you lock the door?' 'Where's the goods?'" DeSimone said. "They were told the safe (combination), opened the safe and zip-tied the clerks and loaded up bags with phones."

The men stole between 60 and 80 iPhones from the safe, police said.

Police are searching for the two men who were in the store, as well as their getaway driver. The men fled toward Munhall in a Dodge Magnum.

The chief said they have some leads and are looking at surveillance video.

The store closed for the day after the incident.

"Very concerning to me because this isn't the first incident that happened here and a lot of us take pride in working at this location," said Horace Bell, who works next door.

There was another robbery at the Waterfront this week, which Channel 11 covered.

The First Commonwealth bank was robbed Monday.

And earlier this month, two blocks away, the First National Bank was robbed.

"I think they should probably think about getting higher security, maybe cameras of that nature," Bell said.

Channel 11 contacted Allegheny County police to see if they would be releasing any surveillance video, but have not heard back.

A spokesperson for Sprint said the company is grateful no one was hurt and is working with police.

Cox Media Group