New York Man Charged With Robbery After Altercation at Boca Raton Restaurant

Steven Weiss (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A 68-year-old New York man was arrested Saturday night on a felony robbery charge after police say he snatched a Boca Raton restaurant worker’s cellphone during a dispute over a delayed meal, according to a police report.

Steven Weiss, of Hewlett, New York, was arrested at about 10:07 p.m. Oct. 10 at Casa Vera, located on N. Federal Highway. He is charged with robbery by sudden snatching and was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.

A restaurant worker told police that about 10 minutes before officers arrived, he argued with Weiss, who was angry about not receiving his food in a timely manner. The worker said he tried to calm Weiss and offered a discount, but the customer was not satisfied and began calling him obscene names, the worker told police.

The worker, whose name was withheld, alleged that Weiss forcibly took a phone out of his hand and said he was going to break it. The worker told police the phone was damaged and said it made a strange noise when he opened it. He valued the phone at $2,000 but did not give an estimate of repair costs. The officer wrote that he did not see any visible damage.

The restaurant employee gave police video of the encounter. According to the affidavit, it shows the employee take the phone from his pocket and begin using it. Weiss then “quickly and forcibly” took the phone from the worker’s hand, put it behind his back and began to walk away. About 10 seconds later, the video allegedly showed, Weiss handed the phone back. He was then escorted out of the restaurant.

According to the report, Weiss told a responding officer he was upset after waiting about an hour and a half for his food and that he was offered $10 off his meal. He told police he decided to leave and picked up what he thought was his friend’s phone because it looked similar. He said the worker told him the phone was his, and that he gave it back immediately and never took it from the man’s hand. When shown the video, Weiss allegedly said he did not fully remember the interaction and that he may have taken the phone but was not sure.

Weiss was released from the Palm Beach County Jail after posting a $2,500 bond.