The Clinton Police Department issued the following press release:
Clinton Police Arrest Truck Thief in Craigslist Sale
Clinton, Miss. (May 5, 2016) Craigslist is a pretty great place to find inexpensive cars. The not-so great thing about Craigslist is all the scammers trying to sell a car that does not belong to them.
Working off of a tip that an individual was attempting to sell a stolen vehicle on Craigslist, CPD initiated an undercover operation to apprehend the suspect and recover the stolen vehicle.
Clinton Police have arrested a 36 year old Bolton, MS man in connection to the April 23 auto theft of a Ford F-150 at a car wash in south Jackson.
Swanagan |
That is when they arrested and charged 36-year-old Marrio Terrell Swanagan of 1325 Annie Fortner Road in Bolton with receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana while operating a vehicle.
The vehicle has been returned to its rightful owner.
Often these criminals don't get caught and it is up to the buyers to stay vigilant. The Clinton Police Department is reminding online shoppers of some common sense advice.
"Anyone planning to make a purchase from a private individual, from an ad on the internet, newspaper or other publication should check the vehicle and documents very carefully,” stated Chief Ford Hayman. “Make sure that the title is an original and that the VIN matches the one on the title.”
Police are encouraging residents to complete Craigslist and other online transactions at a well-lit and visible location. CPD encourages residents to utilize the Clinton Police Department lobby at 305 Monroe Street to complete transactions. By utilizing the Police Station, residents can immediately have the VIN number of the vehicle purchase run for authenticity. Additionally, the presence of officers will act as a deterrent to would be scammers.
1 comment:
When initially contacting any seller on Craigslist DO NOT use your real name and where possible conduct the entire transaction without using your real name.
Post a Comment