Craigslist Robbery

[tigress666]

It was his own fault.

Nope, it's not the people who robbed the guy's fault at all.

It's perfectly ok to rob some one just cause they were a little niave/trusting. That makes it totally their fault and not yours.

Geeze, I need more money, I got to find me some naive people cause obviously it's their fault if I rob them long as I use a well known scam so I can claim it was their own fault for being too trusting.

(or in other words, it's called people shouldn't have to be mis trusting of people, it was totally the fault of the people who robbed him. Not saying it's the smart thing to do cause sadly, in this world you can't trust people. But that doesn't take the untrustworthy people off the hook for doing unethical things).

 

[jeremyisweary]

I buy things off of Craigslist all the time...in fact I bought a iPhone 4 about a week or so ago...well was on craigslist today and freaked out when I read this ad!! Makes me feel lucky my transaction went flawless. I have sold a couple things on there in the past months as well as bought some things. Just be careful when you use craigslist!! Whoever this person was should of never went to someone's house!! I always meet in the daylight as well as a public place!!


http://shreveport.craigslist.org/mob/1975039789.html

Oh wow, that's my city. Not the best part of town. I agree with others, always meet at public places - preferably inside. I'm glad this person is ok. An iPhone is surely not worth the cost of someone's life.

 

[ajohnson253]

It happens

 

[smokescreen220]

in the past when i've sold stuff on craigslist, i have the buyers meet me at a McDonalds...

 

[DeathProof]

Need to purchase the iUzi app next time.

 

[xenuprime]

I sold a high end monitor on craigslist and the guy needed to see it working first. I took a few precautions.

1. I knew a lot about the guy before he came over. If you have their number on caller id and can match it with their name, you can easily find out a lot about someone.

2. My family was out of the house.

3. I had a friend of mine on the phone the whole time the guy was there so that he could call the police if things went south.

4. I was armed.

Paranoid? Maybe. Have I been robbed? No.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

I've made hundreds of deals buying and selling on clist.

I have never ran into anybody shady. One time a guy sold me a guitar hero guitar that had a bad button, but that's it.

Things like this happen rarely, probably the same rate muggings do.

But this is in Arizona, the op was in the ghetto. Makes all the difference.

Craigslist is not a good idea in the ghettos of America but in reasonable cities it's fine.

Be strapped if you can. Guns scare potential thieves. It's not worth the risk to them to try anything.

 

[asr10 user]

Ive done lots of CL buying and selling, nothing has ever happened. If it feels funny, I just dont go thru with it. Im selling some old car stereo equipment that seems to be highly wanted (ive posted it on ebay 4 times and everytime the winner never pays) and it seems like its bringing out the shady people.

So this last guy who wanted my JL Audio w7 subwoofer, I told him to meet me at a mall, then at last minute I tell them to meet me inside Bank of America. And I tell them, If you dont mind meeting inside so I can check the cash out. No one seems to be ok with this even though they are buyers and already within a block of the bank.

 

[Pillar]

wow

 

[The General]

I always make them come to me and I always keep a loaded gun on my person when they come over.

Never be alone.
Never give them your address.
Always be cautious.

 

[theITGuy]

in the past when i've sold stuff on craigslist, i have the buyers meet me at a McDonalds...

This ^^^

oh yeah and always be packin'...

-J.-

 

[Bobby Corwen]

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Now you have to fight murder charges because of a deal that went bad over a $30 copy of Grand Theft Auto for the XBox.

 

[lordhamster]

How can you possibly suggest that it was the buyer's fault? Yes, you shouldn't trust people, but doing a craigslist deal doesn't mean people are permitted to rob you. It would be the same as if this happened on a city street.

As for the "mail" comment, you are more likely to get scammed on craigslist if you don't deal in person, and in cash. I try to meet in public places, like starbucks for most of my exchanges.

When you get scammed per mail there is much less chance of bodily harm. Even if you are a CCW holder, an in person meet with a scammer/violent thief is essentially walking into an ambush. I prefer ebay where I can see how trustworthy people are based on their feedback.

I did sell tires in craigslist once. The buyer tried to scam me. When we met in the showroom if the local car dealer, he pretended like he claimed he only had $800 rather than the agreed upon $850. What an arse. You just don't see that much asshattery on ebay.

 

[mikeee]

three months ago i was selling my DSLR to two guys who "supposedly" lived in norcal and traveled all the day down to SOCAL to buy my camera, and since i lived next to a police station, they thought it was okay to take a look at my camera then try to push me and punch me in the face and take off, little did they know there was a cop parked across the street and he got out of his car and lay the law on them and arrested them.

 

[ohaithar]

How scary, this is why I never trust craigslist

 

[mad-dog-one]

in the past when i've sold stuff on craigslist, i have the buyers meet me at a McDonalds...

Beware of Mc-robbery.

 

[CW Jones]

I usually bring a buddy with me. I myself am 6'4" 220lbs and a buddy of mine who is no slouch either. Never would I expect something like this to happen... But the few things I have bought have gone flawlessly.

Sucks for the guy... but I wouldn't meet someone in a non public place either. Usually have them come to a mall or something and meet me in the food court. LOTS of people around.

 

[nyisles84]

I will usually meet in a Starbucks, which has a security camera, or a bank, which has plenty of cameras inside and out. If people don't want to meet me there to buy what I have to sell, then then don't get it. Simple as that

 

[Cartaphilus]

You shoot to kill, which is well within your rights in Texas.

On the left coast, you just let them take your property or face jail and/or a lawsuit for violating the theif's rights.

Turns out you can only shoot to kill fleeing robbers in Texas if it is nighttime, and even then, only if a jury resolves a number of tricky factual issues in your favor. Otherwise you face jail and civil litigation for violating the thief's rights, just as if Texas were part of the civilized world.

Title 2 of the Texas Penal Code provides, in pertinent part:

Sec. 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:
(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and
(3) he reasonably believes that:
(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or
(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

 

[kuctonkucton201]

I will usually meet in a Starbucks, which has a security camera, or a bank, which has plenty of cameras inside and out. If people don't want to meet me there to buy what I have to sell, then then don't get it. Simple as that

Yup, nice idea to meet at starbucks.

 

[lordhamster]

Turns out you can only shoot to kill fleeing robbers in Texas if it is nighttime, and even then, only if a jury resolves a number of tricky factual issues in your favor. Otherwise you face jail and civil litigation for violating the thief's rights, just as if Texas were part of the civilized world.

Title 2 of the Texas Penal Code provides, in pertinent part:

Sec. 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:
(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and
(3) he reasonably believes that:
(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or
(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Regardless of what the law says, I would not want to be responsible for using deadly force over a $200 item. If you are not in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death, you have no business even thinking about drawing a weapon, much less using it.

Anyone who thinks its a good idea to shoot at someone because they are running of with a piece of your property needs to have their head examined.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Regardless of what the law says, I would not want to be responsible for using deadly force over a $200 item. If you are not in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death, you have no business even thinking about drawing a weapon, much less using it.

Anyone who thinks its a good idea to shoot at someone because they are running of with a piece of your property needs to have their head examined.

No you shoot the LEG.

 

[Techhie]

I did sell tires in craigslist once. The buyer tried to scam me. When we met in the showroom if the local car dealer, he pretended like he claimed he only had $800 rather than the agreed upon $850. What an arse. You just don't see that much asshattery on ebay.

That "asshattery" is one of the benefits of dealing with craigslist. It's more personal than eBay, and allows you to put pressure on people while in person.

It may seem rude, but it all depends on how far you are willing to go to get a deal. Lowballing goes a long way...it's called "haggling."

 

[ddeadserious]

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Now you have to fight murder charges because of a deal that went bad over a $30 copy of Grand Theft Auto for the XBox.

False.

I have a gun in my pocket.

I meet someone from craigslist under less than ideal circumstances.

They point a gun at me and tell me to give them my stuff.

I shoot.

This isn't about property once they point a gun at you, this is about feeling like your life is in danger. There are plenty of situations where they will rob you and then kill you so you can't file a report or identify them. If you're armed, you'd be a fool to not shoot if a hood rat is pointing a gun at you.

The bottom line is that once they point the gun at me, they run the risk of having one pointed right back, and trust me, I won't be making demands or orders - it will be point and shoot.

 

[asleep]

Turns out you can only shoot to kill fleeing robbers in Texas if it is nighttime, and even then, only if a jury resolves a number of tricky factual issues in your favor. Otherwise you face jail and civil litigation for violating the thief's rights, just as if Texas were part of the civilized world.

1) Shooting armed robbers isn't considered "tricky" to Texas juries,
2) We haven't adopted a Thief Civil Rights Bill here, in spite of the high percentage of lawyer politicians.