Crime & Safety

West Hartford Man, Son Robbed Responding to Facebook Ad for Basketball Shoes

A 17-year-old suspect from Bridgeport is facing several charges.

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Ted Glanzer, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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A West Hartford man and his teenage son were allegedly robbed at gunpoint on Sunday in Bridgeport after answering an ad on Facebook to purchase basketball shoes, according to NBC New York.

Upon arriving at their destination in Bridgeport, the father and son - who were attempting to buy a pair of Air Jordan basketball shoes through a Facebook page called Connecticut Sneaker Exchange - were ordered to the ground at gunpoint by two alleged assailants, according to the WTNH. 

The suspects took the father's and son’s money and the son’s cell phone, WTNH reported.

The teenage victim was able to identify one of the suspects through a Facebook account and one suspect was arrested, according to WTNH. Police also recovered a BB gun that was allegedly used in the robbery.

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Police have charged a 17-year-old suspect (whose identity was not released due to his age) with first-degree robbery, larceny, risk of injury to a minor and brandishing a facsimile of a firearm.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Lifehacker.com suggests that, for safety purposes, people purchasing items from a social network or from Craigslist should meet with the seller in a public location such as a coffee shop, a bank or a busy gas station. Lifehacker also suggests bringing a family member or friend along for security and to help inspect the item that is for sale, which is apparently what happened in this case.


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