Sheriff's Department Urges Caution Following Robbery, Pistol-Whipping

MORENO VALLEY, CA — After a victim was allegedly robbed this week at gunpoint, authorities are warning Riverside County residents to proceed carefully when offering valuable items for sale online.

The latest cautionary incident occurred Sunday night in Moreno Valley. A male, whose identity was not released, listed his PlayStation 5 gaming console for sale on OfferUp, which is a mobile-friendly platform designed to help people buy and sell items, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The victim arranged to meet with a potential buyer in the 24000 block of Fir Avenue, which is a residential neighborhood. When the buyer arrived, he and two friends demanded the gaming console from the seller at gunpoint, the sheriff's department said.

The suspects took the PlayStation from the victim's vehicle trunk and pistol-whipped him before fleeing on foot. The victim sustained minor injuries, according to the sheriff's department.

The suspects are described as three adult males wearing all-black clothing with ski masks and carrying a black firearm.

The suspects were unknown to the victim and the app-based messages between the suspect and victim are no longer accessible, according to the sheriff's department, which was called to the scene around 10:30 p.m.

While a search for the suspects was unsuccessful, deputies are checking nearby homes and businesses for surveillance cameras, the agency reported.

"We are seeking the public’s help with identifying any suspects involved. If you have any information about this robbery or captured the incident on your home surveillance cameras, please contact Deputy Velasquez of the Moreno Valley Station by calling 951-486-6700," the sheriff's department said.

To prevent further incidents like the one that occurred Sunday night, the sheriff's department is reminding residents to use safe areas to conduct such sales.

A "Safe Swap Zone" is set up in the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station parking lot, 22850 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos. The zone is outfitted with a camera and is located in a highly visible location directly in front of the lobby of the station.

"This swap zone provides residents with another option to safely buy and sell items and provides another place for visitation exchanges of children in families with custodial arrangements," according to the sheriff's department.

Many other sheriff's department stations, as well as local police agencies, have similar setups.

The sheriff's department also reminded residents not to conduct business late at night, especially in poorly lit areas that don't have surveillance cameras.