Columbia police investigate armed robberies spurred by online sales
Columbia police investigated two armed robberies Tuesday night that involved victims meeting up with people claiming to sell items online.
Police said the armed robberies occurred in different locations. In both cases, the victims met with sellers of Xbox gaming systems, which were advertised on Facebook Marketplace, according to authorities.
Officers were dispatched to the first call at 8:57 p.m. in the 3200 block of Elm Grove Drive. Police were then called to the second robbery at 9:13 p.m. to the WalMart on West Broadway.
Police said the suspects robbed the victims at gunpoint, taking cash and a cell phone from one of the victims.
Authorities can not confirm if the two incidents are connected.
Tanner Bechtel, a Boonville-based musician, said he’s sold items online for 15 years, including classic cars and furniture. He said he always tries to “humanize” a sale, as both the buyer and seller. That includes asking plenty of questions of either the person selling the item, or the person buying from you.
“You talk about what you did with it, how you used it,” Bechtel said. “You make that transaction seem like there’s another person on the other side of it.”
The department is warning residents to use caution when meeting strangers to buy and sell items. Police said residents are encouraged to use the lobby of the police station to meet with strangers to buy or sell items. The police station is located at the corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets.
