PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A pair of teenagers have been arrested after a string of camera thefts targeting Facebook Marketplace sellers. The spree began on April 5 when Ajani Plummer, 17, contacted a victim selling a $1,600 camera. Using the alias “Smith Palmer,” Plummer arranged to meet the seller at 4900 Alder Drive, along with Charles Colebrooke, 17, who acted as a lookout.
When the victim handed over the camera, Plummer ran off with the item, and Colebrooke quickly followed. This marked the first of four robberies in a two-week period.
On April 9, another victim selling a $1,000 camera was contacted by “Smith Palmer” and met Plummer at the same location. As in the first incident, Plummer grabbed the camera and fled. Four days later, on April 14, Plummer again arranged a meeting to inspect another camera, this time worth $1,600. After running off with the camera, Plummer and Colebrooke, who had been standing guard, fled the scene.
During the fourth robbery on April 16, a victim met Plummer at the same location with a $798 camera. Once again, Plummer grabbed the camera and ran, with Colebrooke acting as a lookout. This time, Colebrooke allegedly pointed a firearm at the victim before they both fled the scene.
Palm Beach County deputies quickly connected the robberies and began searching for the stolen cameras in pawn shop records. Two cameras were traced to a 38-year-old woman who had pawned them, one just hours after it was reported stolen. Surveillance footage showed the woman arriving at the pawn shop with a young man matching Colebrooke’s description.
After tracking the woman’s vehicle to her residence, deputies followed and executed a traffic stop, where they found both Plummer and Colebrooke. The teens admitted to the thefts, with Colebrooke explaining that the woman had no involvement other than driving them to the pawn shop, as they were minors.
Both Plummer and Colebrooke were booked on charges of robbery with a firearm and organized scheme to defraud. Authorities have yet to release further details on the ongoing investigation.
