SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — On Monday night in Syracuse, a woman who had arranged to meet with a prospective buyer for her Apple Watch became the victim of an armed robbery.
At approximately 7:32 p.m., law enforcement swiftly responded to a reported robbery incident in the 100 block of McAllister Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, the 20-year-old woman explained she was selling her watch to an individual she connected with on Facebook Marketplace. Instead of one person, she was met by a group of several men, one of them was armed with a gun.
The woman was not injured in the incident.
The police strongly urge the public to exercise caution when engaging in face-to-face meetings arranged through online platforms for buying and selling items. Lt. Matthew Malinowski of the Syracuse Police Department has noted that when facing these situations, prioritize your safety over money. Get to know your trading partner as much as possible, including their ID, contact information and address. This information could be crucial in case of a robbery, helping law enforcement swiftly respond.
The police have requested that anyone with information about the incident contact them at (315) 442-5200.