Police: Man sold iPhone boxes filled with tiles

A San Marcos man was arrested on suspicion of selling iPhone boxes stuffed with tiles to unsuspecting customers he met on Craigslist, police said Tuesday.

Luther Clayborn Dawson, 41, on was arrested for four grand theft charges Monday after detectives spotted him allegedly selling an Irvine man iPhone boxes that each contained a rectangular ceramic tile and user’s manual, the Irvine Police Department said.

Dawson first appeared on Irvine police’s radar last week when another Irvine resident said he was fraudulently sold three boxes that he believed contained cellphones. The man told police that before he could look at his new merchandise, Dawson took off in a black 2006 Range Rover that didn’t have license plates.

Police said they have connected Dawson to two other incidents in Irvine against victims from Garden Grove and Fountain Valley.

At the time of his arrest, police said Dawson was in possession of additional boxes.

He has since posted bail been released from Orange County Jail.

The second Irvine victim’s money was recovered, but the first’s was not, police said.

People who believe they were victimized or have related information are asked to contact Det. Alex Kim at (949) 724-7199.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30