Prince William County, VA. , Police are issuing a warning after a teenager was robbed while trying to sell clothes.
The transaction allegedly started with an agreement made on a social media app, but went wrong.
what do we know:
Prince William County Police say a 16-year-old boy was trying to sell some clothes in his neighborhood when things took a turn.
Just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, police say the teen met with a group of people on Skystone Loop to finalize a sale he started on Instagram.
The transaction was taking place near Signal Hill Park when one of the men in the group allegedly pulled out a gun. Before they all got into the car and drove away from the scene, another man snatched belongings from the 16-year-old victim.
Investigators say the teen was not injured and all three suspects – two men and a woman – are in their late teens.
What they are saying:
Lt. Jonathan Perok has a message for parents and anyone who plans to meet with random people to complete online transactions, especially as we head into the holidays.
Perok said, “One, I would never encourage a teen to make a transaction like this. It’s always better to have an adult present.” “This is not a safe practice, especially with these teens dealing with people they don’t know. You never know who is going to show up.”
Now, one safe area where people can do these online transactions is the police department.
There are designated parking spaces to make sure police know there is an exchange taking place – simply pull up, park, exchange items and walk away.
Police say if you’re not comfortable doing it outside, do it in the station lobby, and if you don’t live close to a police department, do it in a public, well-lit area for peace of mind and safety.
What will happen next:
Police say they have leads on the suspects, but anyone with information about this armed robbery is asked to call them.
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