ATL Standard

Roswell police are urging residents to use safe practices when conducting online transactions using Facebook Marketplace following an online deal that led to an armed robbery.

According to investigators, the victim listed his iPhone for sale on Facebook Marketplace and agreed to meet a buyer in the parking lot of a Roswell apartment complex, FOX 5 Atlanta News reported. When the buyer, a juvenile, showed up to the deal, he pointed a gun at the victim and fled the scene after stealing the iPhone.

A friend of the victim saw the stolen iPhone relisted on Facebook Marketplace while the victim was reporting the robbery, Fox 5 reported. Police officers pretended to be interested buyers and met with the criminal before arresting him.

The juvenile suspect is now in custody.

Officers warn locals to conduct safe offline meeting practices when meeting strangers through Facebook Marketplace and urge residents to use the police department's parking lot as a meeting spot for completing online transactions.

"Our cameras are recording 24/7, and someone who turns down an offer to meet at the police department just might be someone you don’t want to do business with," a police spokesperson said, according to FOX 5.