ben shekelberg 
Police arrested two New Jersey men in connection with an alleged cell phone ordering and theft scam.
Police responded to a Grove Street address on Friday at about 2:45 p.m. for a suspicious activity report, according to a press release from Dover Police Chief William Breault.
A resident there told police that he had received a cell phone he did not order, and “almost immediately after a package arrived,” a suspect knocked on the door attempting to get it, Breault said.
“As this was occurring, Dover police dispatch received a second call regarding the same activity from an address on Gold Post Road,” police said.
The suspects left the area but an officer observed a “dark gray Jeep bearing New Jersey license plates” with the suspects riding inside near Mount Vernon and Hough streets, police said.
During the traffic stop, police said, they seized seven Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ cell phones from the vehicle, with a value of $1,099 each.
Police then arrested the suspects, Gilbert E. Martinez, 20, of 145 Chilton Hall, B2, Elizabeth, N.J., and Emanuely Ramirez-Santana, 22, of 260 Dwight St.. Floor 1, Jersey City, N.J., on felony charges of receiving stolen property, police said.
Both suspects were released on personal recognizance bail, pending arraignment at the Strafford County Superior Court Dec. 12 at 12:30 p.m., police said.
Police reminded residents to “report suspicious activity or behavior to the police department. This includes receipt of packages that were not ordered, unknown subjects attempting to retrieve deliveries, or suspicious individuals or vehicles loitering in your neighborhood,” police said. “Additionally, residents are reminded to periodically check their credit reports to ensure they have not become the victim of identity fraud.”
The arrest came less than two months after Portsmouth police arrested two Bronx men on fraud charges involving a iPhone. A resident called police Oct. 8 about a new iPhone delivered to his house from AT&T that he did not order. Being familiar with recent scams regarding such deliveries, the resident called police and the Portsmouth Police Special Investigations Unit initiated surveillance on the home in question.
Officers then witnessed a vehicle with a New York registration approach the residence. Police allege one of the two occupants stepped out and took the package from the front porch.
Yobelin Sanchez, 22, Bronx, New York, was arrested on felony charges alleging identity fraud and receiving stolen property. Rolando Tabar, 20, Bronx, was arrested on felony charges alleging identity fraud and receiving stolen property.
Following their arrests, Portsmouth police said they deal with identity theft “on a daily basis.”
Portsmouth Police Capt. Darrin Sargent, along with detective Timothy Cashman, said criminals use a combination of high-tech online tools and old school thefts to find personal information about people they can exploit.
Because of “data breaches,” criminals can go on to the dark web and buy financial information – sometimes including Social Security numbers – of unsuspecting people, Sargent said at the time.
“The opportunities for them are endless,” he said.
