York County man met strangers to sell gun. They robbed him at gunpoint, deputies say
A York County man who was trying to sell a gun to people he met online was robbed Thursday of the weapon at gunpoint, deputies said.
The crime demonstrates the importance of people using safety measures and safe locations when buying and selling items as Internet transactions continue to increase, officials said.
The victim, 23, told responding deputies and detectives he talked to a man on Snapchat social media, then met two men in a rural area near Sharon in western York County to sell the Glock handgun, according to a York County Sheriff’s Office incident report. The seller told deputies he demonstrated the gun was working properly by firing it until it was empty of ammunition, the report stated.
That’s when the victim told deputies the two suspects posing as buyers pulled guns, and stole the gun, said Trent Faris, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
The armed robbery remains under investigation by detectives, Faris said.
Safety is important in online sales
Law enforcement officials with the sheriff’s office and other York County police agencies have said online sellers and buyers should employ safety measures when meeting strangers for Internet transactions. As the number of people using Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other online services to buy and sell items increases, the potential for danger also increases, officials said.
Some places such as QuikTrip stores, in conjunction with law enforcement, provide what is called “Exchange Zones” where people can meet in public to handle deals. Nearby Charlotte was one of the first areas in the country to use QT store exchange zones to increase online transaction safety, the Charlotte Observer reported.
There have been reports at York County police agencies of thefts of money and even a car that was being sold after strangers met for a deal.
Online sales have risen in recent years and have spiked even more during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
Any time a person meets a stranger for an online sale, the meeting should be in a well-lit area with people around, Faris said.
“We recommend somewhere such as a store parking lot, or even meeting here in the parking lot at the sheriff’s office,” Faris said. “The safety of the persons selling and buying is what matters most.”
Beware of giving personal information online
The U.S. Department of Justice advises to not meet a buyer or seller alone, and not to share personal information such as a home address,
“Beware of posting photos taken from smartphones for online ads,” the DOJ said on its Web site. “You could be sharing your home address with a criminal.”
With the holiday season approaching, police are even more concerned about safety of the public when meeting strangers.
Sgt. David Dover of the city of York Police Department said it is always safer for people to meet for sales in a public place. Meeting in places where it is documented that there are surveillance cameras is also a a good idea, Dover said.
Additionally, daytime meetings are better for safety, Dover said.
