Car Sale Arranged on Facebook Turns Into Armed Robbery

An attempt to buy a car through Facebook turned out to be a setup for the armed robbery of an Anne Arundel County man, police say.

The victim was supposed to meet the seller of an Acura just before 7 p.m. Saturday near Ballman Avenue and Ballman Court in Brooklyn. The car sale was arranged through Facebook, according to Anne Arundel County Police.

As the driver of the silver Acura with a temporary Delaware tag was talking to the potential buyer, a second man with a handgun walked up behind the victim and demanded the victim’s wallet.

Police say the victim turned over his wallet and the man he had talked with fled on foot. The other suspect got into the Acura and fled the area.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call police at 410-222-6135.

The first suspect is described as a black man between 20 and 26 years old, 5’6”, with a thin build, shaved head, wearing a green T-shirt and black shorts. He has a tattoo of heart with an arrow on right arm.

The second suspect is described as a black man about 20 to 22 years old, tall, with a muscular build, wearing a black hat, white T-shirt and black sweatpants.

Safe Place for Online Sales

In June, the Annapolis Police Department announced a program called Transaction Safe Place to ensure the safety of residents completing online sales. The parties meet in the police department’s parking lot or lobby to handle their transactions.

To ensure the transactions do not involve stolen merchandise, residents may check the item at the APD lobby, 199 Taylor Ave., and request that an officer check the item’s serial number against national databases.

Safety Tips

Additional safety tips for those conducting a transaction with an unknown buyer include:

• Only accept cash or a cashier’s check for sale. Personal checks carry some risk.
• Conduct sales during weekdays so banking or financial institutions can be contacted if there is a problem.
• Don’t go alone and trust your instincts.