Man robbed during online sale meeting
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Local law enforcement are warning the public after a Craigslist-like deal ended with a robbery.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office says a man trying to purchase a cell phone was robbed Monday in the 8700 block of W. Old Nashville Road in Columbus.
The man said he set up the deal over Facebook. After meeting up, the man claiming to have a phone for sale pointed an unknown object from his pocket at the victim, according to the sheriff’s department.
The suspect got away with the man’s phone and wallet. A deputy and his K-9 were unable to track the suspect down.
Sheriff Matthew Myers said the incident is a reminder for anyone wanting to purchase items through online classifieds.
“If you are buying or selling to someone you met online, ask specific questions that someone who owns the product would know,” Myers said in a statement. “If they can’t answer basic questions, there is a good chance they don’t actually have the product and chances are it is a setup to rob you. You should meet only in a public place and never go to a secondary location. Finally, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
