Crooks Lose at Their Own Game

On May 19, an Eden Prairie resident noticed a suspicious vehicle drive into the parking lot of his condo building. The suspicious vehicle had a piece of paper duct-taped over the rear license plate. The resident drove around so he could see the front of the vehicle and gave the license plate number to Dispatch.

At that point a woman came out of the condo building and began talking to the passenger in the suspicious car. Just as an EPPD squad car entered the parking lot, the suspicious vehicle left the lot quickly. Dispatch then received a call from a woman at the building who said that she had been robbed by the people in the vehicle.

The woman had placed an ad on Facebook looking for a gaming system. One of the suspects responded to the woman and agreed to sell her a system for $320. When the woman handed the suspect the cash, the car took off without giving the woman the system.

Officers quickly caught up to the suspicious vehicle and after questioning, arrested both people in the car for felony theft.

Buying items from individuals (rather than companies) over the internet can be tricky. While not all criminal behavior can be avoided, here are a few tips to reduce your risk:

• When making an exchange of money for a product, always meet in a public, well-lit location like the parking lot of a shopping area.
• Do not conduct the exchange at your home.
• Take your cell phone with you.
• Let a friend or family member know exactly where you’re going.
• Have a friend go with you.
• Most importantly, trust your instincts.

Visit the Eden Prairie Police Department’s blog.