SAVANNAH, GA (May 4, 2016): Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police remind citizens to make safety a top priority when meeting strangers to purchase items advertised online, following the armed robbery of five victims Tuesday evening, on the 1100 block of Love Street.
The adult male victims reportedly arrived at about 7 p.m., to purchase shoes advertised on Facebook by a male subject previously unknown to them. One victim, upon exiting his vehicle, was met by two males with guns. The victim complied when the armed men demanded his possessions. The suspects then robbed the four remaining victims of shoes, cell phones, jewelry and cash.
One suspect drove off in the victim’s vehicle. The other fled in the stolen silver Nissan Sentra in which the suspects arrived. This victim’s vehicle was recovered on the 100 block of Spring Street.
Both suspects are described as black males in their mid-20s. One suspect has a dark complexion and wore dark-colored clothing during the incident. The second suspect has a light complexion, dreadlocks and a tattoo on one of his hands and arms. He wore blue jeans and a white tank top during the incident.
SCMPD urges citizens to keep safety at the helm when buying and selling goods advertised online. The public is reminded of the following safety tips:
- Utilize police precincts as meeting places.
- Avoid meeting to buy or sell items alone.
- Always advise a friend or loved one of your plans to buy or sell items.
- Arrive early and position yourself to observe and evaluate your surroundings and individuals you are scheduled to meet. If something makes you uneasy, leave immediately.
- Buyers and sellers always should meet in public highly populated places during daylight or business hours.
- Always take a working cellular phone to alert police of emergencies.
- Never invite strangers into your home and avoid entering their residences.
- Avoid posting personal information online.
- Have several adults present when selling heavy items that are difficult to remove from your home.
- Keep valuables out of view.
- Be leery of purchasers attempting to use cashier’s check from out-of-state or outside of the country. These may be counterfeit.
Investigators ask the public’s help in identifying suspects in this case. A tip line is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.
Anyone with information may also call CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
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