Cops: Salesman assaulted, phone stolen in Baldwin

A door-to-door salesman in Baldwin was persuaded Monday to lend his cellphone to a young man, who then punched him in the face and stole the phone, Nassau police.

The victim, a 17-year-old Terminix salesman, was walking near Milburn Avenue and Clinton Place about 3 p.m. and talking on his phone, police said, when a man who was about 16 to 20 years old got out of a car and approached him.

The suspect said he had an emergency and asked if he could use the phone, police said. After the victim handed the stranger the phone, the victim was punched in the face, possibly suffering a broken nose, police said.

The attacker got into the passenger seat of the car, a light-colored Toyota Prius, and rode off, police said.

Detectives asked that anyone with information concerning the crime call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 900-244-TIPS.