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Following that case, members of the Yonkers Police Department Pattern Crimes Unit began to investigate various internet and social media sites in an attempt to locate stolen items that might be listed for sale.
In the beginning of November, a Yonkers Police officer found an advertisement on Craigslist offering a set of 2015 Honda CRV rims and tires for sale. These rims were advertised for only $600, but were actually worth thousands of dollars.
An undercover officer eventually met up with the seller to make a purchase, the seller was subsequently taken into custody and arrested for three incidents of wheel thefts in Yonkers. In this case, the price being offered for the rims should have been an immediate indicator to any potential buyer that these items were possibly stolen.
Police say to trust your instincts, if its too good to be true it probably is and add that although most users on Craigslist are law abiding, there are some precautions residents should take when using this site and others:
- When meeting someone for the first time, remember to insist on a public meeting place like a cafe. Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
- Be especially careful buying/selling high value items. Consider making high-value exchanges at your local police station.
- Tell a friend or family member where you're going. Take your cell phone along if you have one. Consider having a friend accompany you.
Taking these simple precautions helps make Craigslist safer for everyone.
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