Officials Urge Craigslist Caution After Gun Pulled During Buy

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is warning deal-seekers to be careful when buying items off of Craigslist after a man allegedly pulled a gun on the man trying to buy a cell phone from him.

The department offered the following tips for handling Craigslist deals:

• Set up appointments during the day.
• Insist on a public meeting place—Criminals don’t want witnesses; they are not likely to rob you in a location full of people.
• Don't go alone—consider having a friend accompany you.
• Tell a friend or family where you're going.
• Take your cell phone along so you can call 911 if necessary.
• Don't travel with large amounts of cash.
• Don't buy from sellers who only list an email address—this is a red flag the seller has something to hide.
• Never go to a second location—if you arrived at a meeting place and the seller asks to go to another place, this should raise some serious red flags.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is—you are better off passing it up.
• Trust your gut—always follow your instincts. If anything seems suspicious, out of place or doesn't feel right; if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, just leave.