Man in selfie taken with stolen phone comes forward

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — The couple whose selfie was snapped with a Southern California burglary victim’s phone has been identified, authorities said Thursday.

The man shown in the selfie came forward and spoke with detectives, and members of the public identified the woman in the photo, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Dubin said.

Officials released the selfie Wednesday and have branded the pair persons of interest, not suspects, as the investigation into a July 30 burglary continues. A Santa Clarita woman whose home was ransacked and electronics were stolen spotted the selfie when she logged on to her cloud, or online storage, account.

Investigators have not released the man’s name, but Larry Beltran Jr. told KNBC-TV that he and his girlfriend are the people in the photo.

“It’s embarrassing,” Beltran said. “I had no idea it would be all over the news or anything. That was just between me and my girlfriend.”

Beltran’s aunt Angie Cabrera said the phone was one of two she bought at a swap meet for a total of $80.

“I thought I got a good deal, but I didn’t know I put my nephew in a bad situation,” Cabrera told KNBC-TV.

The investigation into the burglary is ongoing, Dubin said.