WATERBURY, CT — A Waterbury robbery linked to Facebook Marketplace has police urging caution after a man was robbed at gunpoint Saturday afternoon while attempting to sell an item through the popular online platform.
According to Waterbury Police, the robbery occurred around noon on Southview Street. The victim had arranged a Facebook Marketplace transaction to sell an electronic device when the supposed buyer pulled a firearm and stole the item. The man was not injured, and the suspect fled the scene. Police are investigating this as the fourth reported Waterbury robbery this month connected to online sales.
Earlier incidents on Fiske Street also involved Facebook Marketplace listings, including an iPad, gaming laptop, and iPhone. In each case, suspects lured sellers by requesting factory resets and video proof, only to rob them at gunpoint upon meeting.
Waterbury Police spokesperson Lt. Ryan Bessette urged residents to use safe exchange zones, such as the department’s monitored front lobby at East Main Street, to reduce risk during these types of transactions.
Anyone with information about the Southview Street robbery or other recent Waterbury robbery cases is asked to contact the Waterbury Police Department Detective Bureau at (203) 574-6941 or leave anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at (203) 755-1234.
