Posted on 02/27/2010 5:32:06 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
A Twin Cities family thought they were meeting a man to buy a car, but they ended up trapped in their own vehicle, held at gunpoint and robbed.
The family, who asked to remain anonymous, answered an ad for a Toyota Camry posted on Craigslist.
The couple took their two-year-old and went to meet their contact at 8:30 p.m .Thursday on the 200 block of Birmingham Street on St. Paul's east side.
The victim walked up to the man to make the transaction.
He said, "He put a gun to my head and said you see what I'm working with."
The gunman followed the victim back to the family car where his wife and child were waiting.
St. Paul Police Sgt. Paul Schnell said, "They did at that point exactly what we would (have) people do and encourage people to do, to be complaint and survive the situation."
They drove for at least two miles, the victim behind the wheel and the gunman in the passenger seat.
The victim said, "He puts the gun in my gut and says if I do anything stupid he'll kill me."
When they reached Conway Street and Maria Avenue, the gunman forced the family out of their car and took the $2,200 they planned to use to purchase the advertised Camry.
The victim said the gunman returned some of the money before driving away.
He said, "He gives me a hundred bucks and said that's the bus ride home."
The family's stolen car is a 1996 green Honda Civic with a Minnesota license plate LFD 609.
Anyone who spots the car, or knows anything about the crime, is asked to contact the St. Paul police.
I have always been told that if you allow yourself to be taken to the secondary crime scene, you may not survive...
These folks were lucky, but I think that the LEO's advice will get others killed...
Just my .02....
Bad advice. mine:
If you see an opportunity and are able, kill him without mercy.
Who follows instructions to take $2200 cash to buy a car from someone they have never met?
Ping
It's too bad the gunman was wearing an invisibility cloak, since no description of the guy is avalable. A description of what he looks like would help in the search.
Why would you meet them at night? Very stupid.
I sold a car and the guy brought $6000 cash.
No kidding. If I buy a used car its usually because I see it sitting in someone’s front yard with a for sale sign on it.
>>Who follows instructions to take $2200 cash to buy a car from someone they have never met?<<
I think anyone who uses Craigslist for ANYTHING is nuts. It has not even a fig leaf in terms of controls. You are safer buying a “bona-fide Picasso” at a garage sale.
Hmmm . . . but no description of the perp. . . .
Well, with all the stories of murder and swindle associated with Craiglist, I would never make a transaction with someone there. If I had to, I’d be ready for any eventuality and I certainly would endanger any family members by having them tag along.....
I have friends for that sort of thing....
;-)
C’mon....we’re Liberal Lakes, here.....
Sad story. Fishy deal. Going to a strange, dark location with the wife and kid to make a large case transaction.
Daylight. Busy, public location. Money order. Have another male relative or good friend to drive the family car home.
When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.
He had both eyes AND skin.....
I was about to wonder if this could happen with a newspaper classified as well, but the newspaper has to verify the person placing the ad so the person can be billed. Craigslist is free. Better to use something like eBay where there is a likelihood of tracing to the person placing the ad.
I’ve done this several times with a gun pointed at my head. It’s a cinch.
>>It’s too bad the gunman was wearing an invisibility cloak, since no description of the guy is avalable. <<
It is like here, after a high-profile hit and run this weekend. The cops held a press conference (a day later, mind you) and said “the victim’s mother spoke briefly with the driver before he drove away but we don’t know what was said.”
Excuse me? Wouldn’t your investigation START with ASKING HER?
Maybe I don’t understand fancified police procedure...
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