New Trend: Robbery by Appointment
By: Sherrell Hubbard
Updated: December 13, 2012
The Fort Wayne Police Department says there is an uptick in armed robberies---it's not just robberies at banks or businesses anymore, but people, and criminals are using the internet to meet their victims.
Craigslist robberies are happening more and more often, and they've made their way here to Fort Wayne. The Better Business Bureau calls these cases "robbery by appointment. "
BBB Spokesperson Marjorie Stephens says "People are going on there, they are buying or they are selling an item and when they meet up with the person who's interested, they get a big surprise." They are shown a gun instead and are forced to hand over the merchandise or cash.
The F.W.P.D. says there have been at least four robberies linked to Craigslist in the last three weeks. Each case involved an iPhone for purchase or for sale.