2 charged following online buy-and-sale robberies
A Calgary man and a youth face charges in relation to a series of online robberies and thefts.
Between April 23 and Monday, 12 robberies and thefts took place after sellers posted iPhones for sale online.
Police believe multiple suspects posed as the same potential buyer, using the same Facebook profile with the name "Chris Luma."
After a number of reports that included a similar description of a getaway vehicle, police were able to identify two suspects they believed were involved with the robberies.
Monday, a search warrant was executed in the 100 block of Cedardale Road S.W., where police seized stolen electronics, stolen licence plates and arrested one suspect.
Deng Amag, 18, was charged with robbery, theft under $5,000, tracking stolen property under $5,000 and multiple breaches of court orders.
He's scheduled to appear in court June 9.
The same day, a second search warrant was executed in the 4400 block of Richardson Way S.W. that led to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy who can't be named.
He's charged with robbery and four counts of theft under $5,000.
He will appear in court June 16.
Police also offered a few safety tips for anyone engaging in buy-and-sell transactions online:
- Be wary of selling to online profiles that have recently been created, and feature few personal photos or "friends."
- Meet in a public place where there is CCTV coverage. Consider taking someone with you. Going to someone's house to deliver an item or arranging to meet at your place is discouraged.
- Ask for an e-transfer as payment, rather than cash.
- Don't factory reset your phone until the sale is completed.
- If something feels wrong, or the buyer is overly nervous, don't hesitate to back away from the sale.
Anyone who has been the victim of a theft or robbery is encouraged to report it by calling police at 403-266-1234, or by calling 911 for a crime in progress.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.