Robbery

Man robbed in Moreno Valley after arranging deal through Craigslist:
24-year-old Joseph Hill of Moreno Valley, California has been arrested after robbing a would be craigslist buyer. Hill placed a phony ad on craigslist advertising a Playstation 3 for sale. When the victim arrived to the predetermined meeting place he was robbed at gunpoint by Hill.

Sometimes local only doesn't even help.

Police Issue Warning About Craigslist Thief:
Police in Clinton Township, Michigan are warning people about alleged craigslist thief Elizabeth Knighton.

Police claim that Knighton targets craigslist sellers that are selling electronics;. When she meets with the sellers she pepper sprays them and makes off with the goods.

A picture of Knighton is available at the article.

Four suspected carjackers arrested in Hayward; one at large:
Four people have been arrested in Hayward, California for carjacking a man who was selling his car on craigslist.

The man was giving the suspects a test drive when they pulled over under the guise of checking the engine. That's when the victim was robbed of his car and his belongings.

Arrested were 23-year-old Anthony Ochoa, 18-year-old Terrell Moore, 19-year-old Deandre Alberty, and an unnamed 17-year-old.

Another suspect, 21-year-old Antonio Deray Darnell, is still at large.

Just by selling a car on craigslist you could be taking your life in your hands.

Cruel Craigslist Hoaxers Busted:
The Smoking Gun has all the goods on craigslist hoaxers/thieves Amber and Brandon Herbert.

Man, woman arrested in robbery sparked by Craigslist ad:
A 69-year-old man from Lacey, Washington was pistol whipped after responding to a craigslist hooker ad. The man and the 21-year-old 'escort' were in the man's hot tub but then she said she had to changer her clothes. She took forever and the man became suspicious. When he went back into his house it was being robbed by a 24-year-old man who had a gun. And that's when the pistol whipping began. The victim had minor injuries and the suspects were captured.

Remember kids, when responding to craigslist hooker ads chances are good that it's either the cops or the robbers.

Man linked to Craigslist-related crimes:
Police in Portland, Oregon are on the look out for one Matthew Wood. Allegedly he uses the craigslist personal ads to set up meetings with people then robs them blind.

In a December 2006 case, police claim he used the site to meet someone at a bar. They ended up going back to the person's house, where Wood is accused of then stealing $4,000 to $5,000 worth of stuff and running out the door with it when the resident was out of sight.

Police said he stole a camera bag full of digital camera lenses, a computer, a flash device, DVDs and a jacket.

As the ultimate insult, detectives said Wood also stole the victim's cell phone and used it to call a cab to come pick him up after the theft.

It sounds like to me that Wood is preying on people using the men seeking men section for no strings attached type meetings.

Just one more reason why nobody should use craigslist for anonymous hook ups.

Seattle Area Craigslist Buyers Beware:
Police in Seattle...hold on a second...why do these stories always come from the Pacific Northwest...I digress...

Anyway, police in Seattle are warning craigslist buyers to be careful when exchanging money in person. More than a few people have been robbed by the 'seller' lately resulting in theft of over $3000.

The first incident happened December 29th in a Beacon Hill neighborhood. The victim found an ad on Craigslist for an I-Phone costing $300. Soon, he and the alleged seller reached a deal.

The victim told Seattle Police he and the man he believed to be the seller agreed to meet in the 21-hundred block of 15th Avenue South. The victim told police the man led him up a flight of stairs where two other men joined them.

Then all three men beat the victim up and took the $220 he had brought.

This scenario happened to two more unsuspecting customers. This time, each man agreed to meet in the 39-hundred block of 15th Avenue South. Both customers were lured between two buildings where they, too, were beaten by three men.

The last incident occurred on January 9th, when the thieves got away with $2800.

Remember when I said local only and cash only? I take it back. Just don't do business on craigslist. It's safer that way.

Craigslist ad turns out to be dance of deception:
Some guys from Maryland Heights, Missouri ordered an 'exotic dancer' off of craigslist. The 'dancer' showed up with two armed goons and all three of them began robbing the place. One of the victims escaped and called police.

Jessica L. Blackburn, 27, of St. Louis, was charged with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action and was being held Saturday at the St. Louis County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Eddrick L. Harris, 20, and Perry J. Richardson, 21, both of St. Louis, were charged with first-degree robbery, burglary and armed criminal action. Each was being held at the jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

If you want to see naked women go to a strip club. If you were looking for something more then you were basically asking for what happened.

Victim Helps Police Catch Thief Through Craigslist:
Sergei Dmitriev of the University of Minnesota had his laptop stolen. One of his roommates suggested that he check craigslist to see if it turned up there. Lo and behold there it was. Dmitriev contacted the seller who lived only a block away and set up a meeting. When he went to the meeting the laptop matched the serial number. He sent a text message to his roommates who in turn contacted police.

Arrested was one 39-year-old Daniel Gonzalez pictured at right. It was discovered that Gonzalez was running a racket of selling stolen goods on craigslist and was using false IDs to rent a room at a frat house claiming he was 25.

Good job to Mr. Dmitriev for out-thinking and bringing down a career criminal.

Eighth teen named in Porsche scam:
An eighth person in the Long Island craigslist Porsche scam has been arrested.

This time it's 16-year-old Lavainna Seaton of Brooklyn. She has been charged as an adult on charges pf first degree robbery and attempted robbery.

Growing up in New Jersey I remember a PSA they played every night on channel 5 in New York. It said "It's 10 o'clock. Do you know where you children are?" They may want to start running that one again.

Teens charged in fake-Porsche theft scheme:
Back in early December I posted about the Porsche/robbery scam in Long Island. The perpetrators of that robbery ring have been arrested and it turns out their ring leader is a 17-year-old girl.

The group's ringleader was high schooler Agniesika Banach, 17, of Maspeth, who cut and pasted together at least three fake ads on Craigslist selling late-model Porsches, said Det. Lt. Karl Schoepp.

Police said the men involved in the Freeport robbery were Bronx residents Christopher Blanco, 18, and Wally Arias, 18, who were arraigned Dec. 23 in First District Court in Hempstead on robbery charges, according to court records. Brooklyn resident Ronique Simpson, 18, pleaded not guilty to robbery charges at his arraignment yesterday in First District Court and was ordered held on $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash. Blanco and Arias are enrolled in GED classes, Schoepp said.

The men involved in the Baldwin robbery were George Obanyoun, 19, of Inwood, and Chad Greaves, 17, of Brooklyn, police said. Both were arrested Tuesday and were due for arraignment yesterday.

Nothing like a bunch of teenagers preying on the vanity of the rich. Remember kids, if a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Minneapolis Police: Craig's List users recently targeted by thieves:
It seems there's been a craigslist crime wave in Minneapolis Minnesota.

Police are warning users to be extra careful when dealing with the online classifieds site.

There have been at least five robberies connected to craigslist in the month of December.

One was from a man who solicited an (ahem) 'escort' but was met by five people who robbed him.

In other cases people went to a residence expecting to purchase something but when they got to the address the residents there had no idea what they were talking about. Then as they were leaving the people were robbed.

Robbery victims attracted through craigslist.org ad:
22-year-old Kennard Isaiah Love of San Jose, CA was arrested in Milpitas, CA on robbery charges. Love would place a craigslist ad for a car for sale then rob his victims when they would show up. In one instance Love pistol whipped his victim.

Arrested with Love was Keith Tyler Rucker, 23, of Manteca, CA who was wanted on similar robbery charges in San Jose and Santa Clara, Ca.

Ok, remember when I told you about the Illinois craigslist robbery scam? Well, one of the suspects, Dwayne W. Morrow, escaped police custody last Saturday. Not to worry however as he was recaptured yesterday in his hometown of Maywood, Ill.

Gang members wanted for Craigslist ad assault arrested:
Last week I posted about gang members Tuan Q. Vuu and Keith E. Brakes who were wanted for the shooting, stabbing, and robbery of an Olympia, Wash. craigslist seller. Last I heard they were still on the run. That much has changed. Vuu and Brakes were picked up police sometime last week.

The attack might have been a "setup" — a retaliation by members of the True Brothers, or "Tin Bahn," gang in Olympia who thought the victim had robbed their friends in Tacoma, police said.

Police also believe 16-year-old Jimmy Trac who was already in police custody was the getaway driver.