Craiglist shoppers robbed at gunpoint

NEW PORT RICHEY - After surfing Craigslist one night 25-year-old Jacque found a deal on a Blackberry Storm phone he couldn't pass up.

So after calling the seller he set a time and place to meet, but Jacque had no idea what he was walking into.

"He pulls the gun out and he said get, get on the floor," he explained. "I'm like get on the floor? There's water, sprinklers on. So I'm like get on the floor man, you're gonna have to shoot me. He said I'm not playing with you, I'm not playing with you."

Pasco County Sheriff's Office investigators said Jacque was robbed at gunpoint, but he refused to give in to the gunmen's demands.

"If you want it, shoot me for it. He didn't shoot, I got in my car," Jacque said.

Investigators said Jacque is just one of three victims robbed at gunpoint by a 17-year-old suspect. Detectives arrested the teen after they tracked down him down through his Craigslist account.

He's charged with three counts of felony armed robbery.

In Hillsborough County, sheriff's detectives said a woman who got her pricey bike stolen recently found it on Craigslist and she called deputies who came up with a plan.

"She knew it was her bike because she had taken the handle bars off and customized them so she set up an email account and notified us and we went out and took a look at it," HCSO Deputy Larry McKinnon said.

Investigators set up a sting at the Sweetbay parking lot at U.S. 301 in Riverview. When the suspect showed up with the hot bike, detectives made their move. After a brief chase they arrested the teen suspect.

Deputies urge people who use Craigslist to be cautious. Ask the seller to give you the item's serial number and then check with law enforcement to make sure the item hasn't been reported stolen.

If you meet the seller, bring a friend and go to a public location.

Jacque said he's learned his lesson.

"That was a wake-up call for me. I don't shop at Craigslist anymore I stick to eBay," he said.