Cellphone thieves hit Kennewick, Pasco, Sunnyside

Two stores in Kennewick reported that cellphones were stolen this week in a method also reported recently in Pasco, Sunnyside and Yakima.

The thieves, who were male, stole phones from the U.S. Cellular Store on Clearwater Avenue and the Best Buy kiosk in Columbia Center mall, according to Kennewick police.

The men asked an employee to get them a phone. While the clerk was busy, they cut the cables securing several phones on display and left, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 509-628-0333 or, to remain anonymous, can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

This story was originally published November 24, 2016 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Cellphone thieves hit Kennewick, Pasco, Sunnyside."