Teens charged with theft of $13,600 worth of cell phones

Two 14 year olds from Baton Rouge have been charged with the theft of 23 cell phones from Boutte’s Walmart.

The same juveniles were arrested in Baton Rouge after they allegedly broke into a glass case at the Baton Rouge Walmart and stole $14,000 worth of cell phones on Jan. 4.

After their arrest, they were linked to a similar theft that took place in Boutte on Jan. 5. In that instance, two teens broke into a glass case in the electronics department and stole 23 cell phones with a combined value of $13,600.

According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the two teens gave the stolen phones to a relative, 36-year-old Latarsha Dennis. Dennis, who is sought by authorities, is accused of selling the phones to Gardere Communications in Baton Rouge.

After executing a search warrant at Gardere on Jan. 14, deputies say they found the stolen phones. The store’s owner, Safwan Abukahla, 29, was arrested and charged with the illegal possession of stolen things. The two juveniles were arrested and charged with theft by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. They have also been charged with theft of goods more than $1,500 by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.