Police Foil Phone Robbery Attempt in San Lorenzo, Arrest One Suspect

An attempted robbery of an iPhone 15 Pro Max was foiled in San Lorenzo after a merchant grew suspicious of a potential buyer and requested police accompaniment. The incident, which occurred near the 16 de Agosto plaza in the Anahí neighborhood, highlights the risks faced by sellers in online transactions.

The merchant, Gonzalo Nicolás Martínez Franco, 32, had arranged to sell the phone to an individual named "Osmar Brizuela" via WhatsApp. However, the communication style of the supposed buyer raised red flags, prompting Martínez Franco to seek assistance from the local police station. Two officers accompanied him, concealing themselves in the back seat of his vehicle.

The situation escalated when the buyer changed the meeting location. Upon arrival, two men approached the vehicle. As the merchant exited to meet them, one suspect brandished a pistol and threatened him, while the accomplice attempted to seize the phone. The undercover officers intervened, leading to a shootout. One suspect, identified as Óscar Isacio Meza Sánchez, 25, was apprehended, and the iPhone was recovered. The armed suspect, reportedly named Juan Britos, managed to escape. Neighbors reported that the group may have consisted of four individuals on two motorcycles.