Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Area Man Cashes In On Youth's Cell Phone Dependence
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Nov 8, 2010
Modified Nov 8, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Nov 8, 2010
Modified Nov 8, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Even though cell phones are forbidden from being used in most schools, Vernon Alcoser knows that students aren't just going to leave their phones at home. He also knows parents want their kids to have phones on them, and that the kids usually have an allowance. So for $1 a day (75 cents more than these proposed lockers!), lucky teens at two Bronx schools can store their phones in his trucks while they're in school. One student mentioned the necessity of having your phone handy after school, telling the Daily News, "I need my phone in case someone tries to hold me up or stab me. I can call for help." And what's a dollar a day for that sort of peace of mind?
Alcoser's company, Pure Loyalty Electronic Device Storage, has been around since 2007, and parks trucks outside of Herbert H. Lehman High School and Dewitt Clinton High School. He usually gets about 700 customers a day. Local bodegas also reportedly provide storage options, but many people think going with Alcoser is the safer choice, since students are photographed with their phones every morning to make sure nobody takes the wrong one. When asked about their success, Pure Loyalty employee and former Lehman student Jonathan Ortiz also stated the obvious: "These kids can't live without their phones." If that's the case, they should be charging $5.
Tagged
bronx
cell phone storage
cell phones
high school
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx community hosts vigil for boy killed in e-bike fire
Zion Maine died Wednesday after a lithium-ion battery ignited, killing him and injuring four members of his family.
By
Carol Chen
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 9:22 p.m. ET
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
California man was shot by a NJ detective in Moonachie, officials say
By
Kaya Laterman
The NYPD is confiscating e-bikes along a clogged East Village street
By
Willow Higgins
New Yorkers enrolled in SNAP will get more money for fresh produce next year
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .