Authorities allege the suspect displayed a handgun before stealing the computer and fleeing the scene, according to News 12. The investigation is ongoing.
The Fairfield robbery isn’t an isolated incident. Earlier this month in Portland, Oregon, two teenagers stole an electric bicycle at gunpoint. The incident was only one of a string of Portland’s recent armed robberies connected to online marketplace sales.
Last month, a man trying to sell iPhones through Facebook Marketplace in Montgomery County, Maryland, was met by two men who pulled guns on him when he arrived, according to WHIO-TV 7. While he got away, not everyone has been so lucky.
In South Bend, Indiana, 40-year-old Jean Gragg, was fatally shot after her son arranged to meet with an 18-year-old man he had been communicating with through Facebook Marketplace. Her son was trying to sell a watch, according to NBC Chicago.
Countless other reports of Facebook Marketplace crimes have cropped up across the country this year — with armed users robbing everything from laptops and athletic shoes to dirt bikes and phones.
“Online marketplaces provide a convenient way for people to buy and sell items, but criminals can take advantage of these transactions when proper precautions are not taken,” Detective Sgt. Matt Jacobsen of the Major Crimes Unit said in a news release cited by Portland’s KATU ABC 2. “A few simple safety measures can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim.”
Selling online can still be a smart way to earn extra cash. But before you set up time and place to meet a potential Facebook buyer, consider these tips to stay safe.
Trust your instincts
Portland Police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen told KATU ABC 2 that if you are planning to meet up with someone to sell an item, be sure to first check the profile of the person for any red flags and trust your gut.
“If you’re getting some weird vibes about this potential exchange, you know, maybe think twice about going through with it, or taking extra precautions,” he said.
Jeremy Roy, Chief of Staff with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, also told WHIO-TV, that, if something “doesn’t feel right,” you should listen to that feeling.
