Englewood Man Used Letgo App To Rob Woman: Police

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — A city man was arrested in connection with several robberies of individuals linked to the Letgo buy and sell app, police reported.

Sincere Degroat, 19, was charged with first-degree armed robbery, two counts of terroristic threats, and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Detective Capt. Timothy Torell.

Englewood police officers spotted Degroat walking through Mackay Park Jan. 7, two days after a warrant was issued for his arrest, said Torell. Degroat had an iPhone he robbed from a woman on Jan. 5, the captain said.

The robbery occurred on Jan. 5 near the 100 block of Second Street, Torell said.

A 21-year-old Hackensack woman listed her iPhone for sale on Letgo. A man answered the ad, and they agreed to meet in Englewood, Torell said.

The woman and her boyfriend met the man, who grabbed the phone from her hand and said he had a gun and would shoot both of them, Torell said.

The couple flagged down an Englewood police officer who searched the area but did not find the suspect, the captain said.

Englewood detectives investigated that incident, and two more that occurred in the city involving the Letgo app. Those incidents occurred on Dec. 26 and 31.

On Dec. 26, a 21-year-old woman agreed to meet a man at McDonald's on West Palisades Avenue to sell him an Apple Watch. The transaction occurred, but the woman quickly realized she had been given counterfeit money, Torell said. The woman chased after the man, but lost him.

A 27-year-old Fort Lee man had a iPhone taken from him during a similar meet up at the Starbucks on East Palisade Avenue Dec. 31. The suspect grabbed the phone from the man's hand and ran, Torell said.

In a related incident, 18-year-old Xavier Medina was charged with first-degree armed robbery after a 17-year-old North Bergen boy was lured to Lake Street and Broad Avenue through Instagram to supposedly meet a woman, Torell said.

Three men were there. One pointed a gun at the teenager's chest while the other two stole his backpack, iPhone, and AirPods, the captain said.

Detectives served a search warrant at Medina's home Tuesday. They found evidence connected to the robbery and "possibly other crimes," Torell said.

Police are continuing their investigation and more arrests are expected. The local CrimeStoppers group is offering a $1,000 cash reward for any information that significantly assists the police in their investigations.

Tips can be made anonymously on the group’s website at bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tips can also be given to Englewood detectives at 201-568-4875.

Police offered the following advice when meeting up with people to conduct transactions that begin on services like Craig's List, Letgo, OfferUp, and others:

• Always meet during daylight hours.
• Always bring your own cell phone along in case of an emergency. People should know that most deactivated cell phones without a service connection will allow a 911 call to be made on them.
• Always notify friends or family of your intentions to meet with someone.
• Always bring someone with you.
• Never invite strangers to your home or agree to meet at a stranger’s home.
• If you do become a victim of a crime during a meeting, try to get a good description of the suspect’s appearance but never pursue them.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Sincere Degroat, 19, of Englewood (Englewood Police Department)