Craigslist Shooting

[photogpat]

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_ ... ee-familys

As Aung Thu Bo searched for his wallet to hand over to a man purportedly selling a cellphone on Craigslist, the seller shot the Hamline University student in the head, his family said.

he and his girlfriend went to meet a man to buy a smartphone listed for sale on Craigslist, his relatives said. They met in a public place, said his mother, Than Than Aye Bo.
"He said, 'The phone is at my house. Could you drive me to it?' " she said of what she's been told. Aung Bo drove about a block, and then the man demanded his and his girlfriend's cellphones, which they gave him. "He said, 'Don't look at me.' He said, 'Give me your wallet. Aung was looking for his wallet and he killed him."

Sounds like he did everything right - up until getting the "seller" into the car with him and leaving the "public place". I know most of us on here are smart enough to avoid such a situation - but I noticed this weekend that my folks were selling some items via CL. I gave them my standard advice when dealing with anonymous sales:

1) Public Place (w/ security cameras +1)
2) Daylight Hours
3) DO NOT GO ANYWHERE with a buyer OR seller of an item other than the public place
4) Hold on to the cash while buyer "checks out" the merch (aka. item changes hands at same time as cash)

Anyone got anything to add?

[Shipyard]

step 1: don't buy things off of craigs list. not enough bleach for that pool
step 2: drink beer
step 3: enjoy.


besides, most stuff yr buying off there you don't **** need in the first place.

[grousemaster]

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_21297955/craigslist-exchange-was-slain-students-last-refugee-familys

As Aung Thu Bo searched for his wallet to hand over to a man purportedly selling a cellphone on Craigslist, the seller shot the Hamline University student in the head, his family said.

he and his girlfriend went to meet a man to buy a smartphone listed for sale on Craigslist, his relatives said. They met in a public place, said his mother, Than Than Aye Bo.
"He said, 'The phone is at my house. Could you drive me to it?' " she said of what she's been told. Aung Bo drove about a block, and then the man demanded his and his girlfriend's cellphones, which they gave him. "He said, 'Don't look at me.' He said, 'Give me your wallet. Aung was looking for his wallet and he killed him."

Sounds like he did everything right - up until getting the "seller" into the car with him and leaving the "public place". I know most of us on here are smart enough to avoid such a situation - but I noticed this weekend that my folks were selling some items via CL. I gave them my standard advice when dealing with anonymous sales:

1) Public Place (w/ security cameras +1)
2) Daylight Hours
3) DO NOT GO ANYWHERE with a buyer OR seller of an item other than the public place
4) Hold on to the cash while buyer "checks out" the merch (aka. item changes hands at same time as cash)

Anyone got anything to add?

Yea, be armed.

[chudrockz]

It's sad that you even need to consider being so cautious.

Come to think of it I sold a few things on CL not long ago and in every case they agreed to come to my house. I guess in retrospect maybe I should have done that differently for everyone's peace of mind. I'm not too scared for myself, but my dog is pretty little and harmless. Sigh.

[tt3]

step 1: don't buy things off of craigs list. not enough bleach for that pool
step 2: drink beer
step 3: enjoy.


besides, most stuff yr buying off there you don't **** need in the first place.

Nah, it's not all that bad but definitely truly a free market, caveat emptor and all that. I buy and sell regularly on CL. Always armed, always aware, I've backed out of a couple deals where something feels hinkey or just not reply. Usually I avoid having people come to my house, but selling the boat, lawn mower, swing set, projection tv etc is kinda a pain in the ass to move to neutral ground.

I do like step 2 and 3 though, that happens regularly.

[Ron Burgundy]

My unarmed*, pregnant wife sells junk on CL alone at our house all the time. She isn't interested in carrying or waiting for when I'm around. Solution? She mostly sells kids junk which weeds out a lot of the murderers and completes transactions in the driveway. We have nosy, retiree neighbors who keep an eye out wether we like it or not. No CL weirdos in the house. I will carry stuff to the garage but they gotta take it from there.

Not ideal but since we average a 30% no show rate, I'm done carrying my junk to a neutral location.

*my wife has arms

[antimatter]

Small electronics seem to be the worst for scams on Craigs List. Locally, the police report is filled with reports of, "Buyer gave money for IPad, seller fled with the money before the transaction was completed."

[Nat]

just bought a phone from craigslist (my second), and I've even rented apartments from them - guess I fail to understand the stress over one incident given the MILLIONS of sales that take place drama free

[wildfan1]

just bought a phone from craigslist (my second), and I've even rented apartments from them - guess I fail to understand the stress over one incident given the MILLIONS of sales that take place drama free

X2

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

[cigartim]

just bought a phone from craigslist (my second), and I've even rented apartments from them - guess I fail to understand the stress over one incident given the MILLIONS of sales that take place drama free

I totally agree. I am all for taking reasonable precautions, but being paranoid about being shot while buying something off craigslist goes too far, in my opinion. Avoiding the negligible risk that comes with buying/selling off of craigslist seems akin to the drive some have to childproof the inherently dangerous world in which we live. That drive, if followed will lead to a world without guns, motorcycles, fireworks, beer, or premarital sex. I don't want to live in that world, do you?