A New Jersey man found himself the victim of a robbery when he was selling a pair of sneakers.
The victim, a 20-year-old Bayonne man , made arrangements online with two males to meet August 14. At the meeting, which happened in area of West 30th Street, a gun was pulled and the seller was relieved of the footwear and the the robbers fled the scene.
In lieu of this event and one just a week prior where two teenagers were arrested for attacking a man, from whom they had arranged to purchase a Playstation 5, the Bayonne Police Department issued a statement and guildlines to help people engage in such transactions in a dafe manner.
From the release:
“In this day in age, so many of us have items in our homes that we do not need any longer and try to sell online. Online platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, offer an opportunity to reach an infinite number of potential buyers and have proven to be very successful for both the buyer and seller. However, there is a risk that we take when conducting transactions with strangers”
Bayonne Police Department
- Bring a buddy and never conduct the transaction alone
- Use a higher level of caution when the transaction is of a high value
- Conduct the transaction during the daylight hours in a populated area. NOT a secluded area
- Always be aware of your surroundings
- Keep friends and family aware of your arrangements, including the meet location and time
- NEVER conduct the transaction at your home or the home of the other party
- Suggest using online secure pay applications, such as Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp, to ensure everyone feels safe and secure
- TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
As always, if you engage in these sorts of transactions, exercise precaution to make sure you do not place yourself in any unnecessary danger. We do not want you to wind up as a victim and the subject of one of these reports.
