Police: Fresno gang member tried to pluck phone from costumed bird

Fresno police arrested a man Thursday after he tried to steal a cellphone from someone dressed in a bird costume.

Officers responded to South Cedar Avenue and East Kings Canyon Road in southeast Fresno around 6 p.m. Police said the victim, who was dressed in a large black bird costume advertising for a local business, was approached from behind by a gang member who demanded his cellphone.

Police identified the suspect as Lupe Rodriquez Jr. They said he grabbed the victim’s costume wing, which held the cellphone, and started shoving the victim in an attempt to steal the phone.

The victim fled to a nearby business. Rodriquez followed and continued demanding the phone. The attempted robbery was captured on video surveillance, which later led to Rodriquez’s arrest.

Since Sept. 1, southeast Fresno has experienced 14 person robberies, nine of which involved cellphones. However, that neighborhood has the fewest number of robberies in the city, police said.

Police said such thefts usually happen when victims are distracted by using their phones. The department recommends that people record their IMEI number for deactivation and reporting.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Police: Fresno gang member tried to pluck phone from costumed bird."