MOTT HAVEN — A Bronx man who robbed two people at gunpoint on Wednesday, including a 78-year-old woman, was arrested that same day thanks to the "Find My iPhone" app, police said.
Marlon Villagomez, 36, held up an elderly woman inside the elevator at 545 E. 145th St. around 4:15 p.m. while they were stopped on the fifth floor, according to the NYPD.
"Give me what you have," he said, according to his victim. "I want money."
She gave him $20, after which he told her to wait for 20 minutes so he could leave, police said.
Villagomez struck again roughly 15 minutes later at 512 E. 145th St., robbing a 26-year-old man at gunpoint of his iPhone, money and bracelet before telling him he needed to count to 100 before getting up or else something bad would happen to him, according to police.
Police said they tracked down Villagomez with his male victim using the "Find My iPhone" app and arrested him for both robberies after a short chase.
He has been arrested 16 times before, including for charges of assaulting a police officer, robbery and auto theft, according to the NYPD.
The police who arrested Villagomez were part of the 40th Precinct's Neighborhood Community Officer program, a relatively new initiative meant to strengthen police-community relations in the area.
Villagomez tried to defend his actions toward the 78-year-old woman, saying that he was in the building for money from someone else, police said.
"I was at the location to get money from someone who owed me. When the elevator opened, my firearm was displayed," he said, according to court documents. "The lady saw my gun and gave me money. I wasn't there for her. She became very excited, and I was worried she was going to have a heart attack, so I calmed her down."
