A man from Arlington has been apprehended in connection with an armed robbery involving an iPhone, just hours after allegedly pilfering another phone in Keller. The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Anthony Mordi, was taken into custody on January 17.
The incident began when a victim, who was selling a phone through an online marketplace, arranged to meet Mordi. Instead of a transaction, Mordi allegedly brandished a firearm, demanding the phone before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, the victim was unharmed, and no shots were fired during the encounter.
Arlington police responded to a report of the armed robbery on January 19 in the 1200 block of E. Lamar Boulevard. With details provided by the victim, officers were able to identify Mordi as the suspect. Law enforcement located him in Dallas and placed him under arrest.
Mordi now faces charges of aggravated robbery and theft. Following his arrest, he was taken to Arlington County Jail and later transferred to Tarrant County Jail. In addition to the robbery charges, Mordi has outstanding charges related to evading arrest and marijuana possession in Collin County.
Earlier on the same day as the armed robbery, Mordi was caught on camera stealing a phone from another seller in Keller. The victim, known online as iFlipiFones, had been documenting his sales on video, capturing the moment Mordi snatched the phone from his hands while consuming a sandwich. The seller expressed his shock at how swiftly the theft occurred, noting that it all happened in a matter of seconds.
After the theft, the victim promptly reported the incident to the Keller Police Department. Just two hours later, the situation escalated with the armed robbery in Arlington. The seller expressed gratitude that neither he nor the Arlington victim suffered any injuries during these harrowing events.
Many police departments offer designated exchange zones equipped with video surveillance for transactions like these. The encounter between Mordi and the seller took place in a shopping center parking lot, where the suspect’s vehicle was strategically parked to facilitate a quick escape. Reflecting on the experience, the seller acknowledged missed warning signs and emphasized the importance of caution in such situations, stating that no amount of money is worth risking one’s life.
