A transient accused of stealing iPhones and other electronics in several Peninsula cities to fund a drug habit was charged Monday with 13 felony counts of second-degree robbery.
Nicholas Anthony Simat, 26, appeared in court yesterday and his bail was set at $197,500, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
If convicted, Simat faces roughly 11 years in prison but, under realignment, the term would be served locally.
Authorities arrested Simat Thursday at a friend's home in Pinole after police received a tip, according to the South San Francisco Police Department. Police said Simat admitted to committing numerous iPhone thefts and said they were stolen to support a heroin and oxycontin habit.
Since Feb. 27, numerous iPhone thefts happened throughout the Peninsula after a man entered various businesses and pretended to be a customer. The same man went to businesses in South San Francisco, Burlingame and Daly City. When employees were distracted or left the area, the man would quickly steal iPhones, iPads and other electronics from employees' desks. During these interactions, the man referred to himself as Mike or Michael and claimed to be a computer guy who recently inherited money, according to police.
He is also suspected of burglary and theft in Pleasanton.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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