Entrepreneurial Victim Uses Craigslist To Catch GPS Thief

Craigslist led to the arrest of one alleged Alexandria thief. 

Police say a Fairfax County man tracked down his stolen property on Craigslist, met the seller on Saturday at a donut shop on Richmond Highway to have the suspect arrested.

According to the Mount Vernon police district station thieves broke into a car on the 13000 block of Pleasant View Lane Thursday night, taking with them two GPS systems. Police say the devices had been hidden in the Buick sedan when they were stolen from the car on the Annandale road.

The victim reported the theft to the police and then scanned Craigslist in hopes of spotting his stolen property. 

He saw an item on the website he thought could be his and then contacted the seller to arrange a 2p.m. meeting on Saturday.

After recognizing the items were his at their meeting, he called police, who arrested the suspect.

Police have charged Patrick Hayward, of the Rose Hill area, with receiving and buying stolen goods.  Police are still investigating whether this incident is connected to other thefts in the area. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fairfax County Crime Solvers.