Five employees of a cellphone parts and repair store in the city’s north end are facing a total of 18 charges for their alleged roles in what police are calling a “sophisticated” cellphone theft ring.

Police say between December 2013 and March 2014 the accused, four employees and the owner of Apple N Parts at 6373A Yonge Street near Steeles Ave., received stolen cellphones which were packaged to be re-sold as new for as much as $700 in the store, and online through Kijiji.

“This is the most sophisticated cellphone operation that I have seen,” said Det. Const. Ron Chhinzer. “I haven’t encountered anything like this.”

“With a little shrink wrap you have a brand new phone.”

Haley Thornhill says her phone was stolen on St. Patrick’s Day while she partied at The Guvernment nightclub on Queens Quay E.

“Somebody must have just opened my purse and grabbed it out.”

Her phone was one of around 200 phones recovered from the shop.

Araz Behnood, 31, and Cina Barazandeh-Taghizadeh, 21, both of Thornhill, and Masoud Touri of Toronto are all facing two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking.

Sina Ghojehbiglou, 19, of Thornhill, faces one count of possession of property obtained by crime and once count of possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking.

And Eslaminejad Kavous, 59, of Toronto, has been charged with four counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

All five men appeared in court on Wednesday.

CityNews reporter Adrian Ghobrial will have a full report on CityNews at 6.