Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
GPS tracking in the phones led police to Terrell S. Allen in a basement.
In a case that proved technology can be a thief’s downfall, Terrell S. Allen, 39, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 21 months to seven years in state prison, following a robbery at an AT&T store in Collegeville in 2022.
Allen, who pleaded guilty to felony robbery charges, was arrested after a high-tech manhunt that utilized GPS tracking from the stolen iPhones he took during the November 2022 incident.
However, since Allen has 609 days of time served in jail while awaiting trial, he could be paroled within a month, according to The Mercury.
While Mongomery County Common Pleas Judge Risa Vetri Ferman acknowledged Allen’s rehabilitative efforts and time served in jail, she emphasized the severity of his actions, calling the robbery a “significant offense,” per the article.
The incident, which involved threats of violence against a store employee, had a lasting impact on the victim and involved the coordination of multiple law enforcement agencies, Ferman said.
“You have a significant history of crimes that involve violence against others,” said Ferman in the article.
“At the time I was being selfish. I have grown so much since that time. The D.A. doesn’t know me as an individual, he only knows me from paperwork. I’d give you the shirt off my back. All I’m asking for is a second chance,” Allen, who has undergone rehab programs in jail, said Ferman prior to sentencing.
The events unfolded on the mid-morning of November 28, 2022, when Allen entered an AT&T store in Collegeville wearing a Batman-logo cap and black mask. After asking an employee to retrieve a prepaid phone from the store's safe, Allen forced the worker to the ground, threatened to kill him, and stole 36 iPhones valued at about $34,000, authorities said. The police quickly responded, and the alarm system provided GPS data from the stolen phones, which led authorities to track Allen’s movements.
Police traced the stolen phones to a location in Upper Merion, where Allen was found hiding in the basement of an apartment building, authorities said.
Upon searching his vehicle, they discovered 37 iPhones, the Batman-logo cap, a black mask, and a puffy coat that matched the clothing worn by the robber. DNA evidence later confirmed that Allen’s DNA was found on the mask used during the crime.
Despite his attempts to turn his life around, including completing 51 educational and rehabilitative courses while incarcerated, Allen faced significant criticism from the prosecution. Assistant District Attorney Robert Byrne George argued for a lengthy prison sentence, highlighting the “methodic” nature of the robbery.
He noted that Allen had carefully planned the crime, waiting outside the store before opening and luring the employee into the backroom. The victim, who was reportedly still shaken by the incident, was left traumatized by Allen's threats.
Defense attorney Clinton Herrmann sought a more lenient sentence for his client, attributing much of Allen’s criminal behavior to his struggles with drug addiction and a difficult upbringing, according to the article.
Herrmann emphasized that Allen’s lack of positive male role models contributed to his substance abuse and subsequent criminal actions. The defense also pointed to Allen’s efforts to rehabilitate himself -- even founding a nonprofit to help former prisoners reintegrate into society -- as signs of his desire to change.
As part of his sentence, Allen will be under court supervision for up to seven years, which is the maximum allowed for his charge.
