Police identify suspect in Craigslist robberies

Some common sense tips on surviving your Craigslist meeting.

August 27, 2015; 9:15 AM • by Richard Hayes

From Nextdoor and RPD Lieutenant John Garcia:

We have identified a 17 year old man as the suspect in three robberies in the Jahnke Road corridor. He is currently wanted and I expect an arrest soon. In each case the victim was responding to a Craigslist ad involving a high end cell phone. I encourage residents to be proactive when meeting with potential Craigslist buyer/sellers by following a few simple tips:

Trust your instincts.
Don’t go alone.
Insist to meet at a public place such as a police department.
Do not meet in a secluded area.
Do not invite strangers into your home, and do not go to theirs.
Be cautious when buying/selling high value items.
Perform the transaction during daylight hours.
If it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.
Tell a friend or family member about your intentions.
Take your cell phone with you.

Although it’s a little bit of a drive VCU police are offering up their lobby for CraigsList and other transactions.

Image: Craigslist