A 68-year-old New York man faces a felony robbery charge after Boca Raton police said he snatched a phone from another man’s hand at Casa Vera, a restaurant at 3249 N. Federal Highway, on Oct. 10.
Steven Peikin Weiss, of Hewlett, N.Y., was arrested shortly after 10 p.m. The probable cause affidavit says Weiss was angry that his food had not arrived in a timely manner, or at all. The victim said he offered a discount, but Weiss began insulting him, grabbed the phone and said he would break it.
Police said video shows Weiss pulling the phone away, tucking it behind his back and walking off. He returned it about 10 seconds later. The victim said the $2,000 phone made a “weird noise” afterward, but an officer saw no visible damage.
Weiss told police he had waited about an hour and a half for his meal and had been offered $10 off. He said he took what he thought was a friend’s phone because it looked similar and gave it back right away. When shown the video, he said he did not fully remember the encounter and might have taken the phone.
Weiss was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and released on a $2,500 bond. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
