Gold Coast mum warns others to be vigilant after a buyer took items from her backyard in Facebook Marketplace deal gone wrong
A Gold Coast mum says she feels “violated” after a Facebook Marketplace sale went horribly wrong. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED >>>
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A MAUDSLAND woman is warning others after a person entered her backyard to take an item she was selling on Facebook Marketplace without permission and without paying.
Lauren Romeo says it’s a timely reminder for Gold Coasters to avoid giving out their house number in the first instance and not giving strangers details about their work hours or when they won’t be home.
“I never thought someone would enter my backyard without my permission, but they did and I feel violated,” she said.
“Sure, it was only two terracotta pots worth $40, but it’s the principle of the situation.”
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On May 13, Ms Romeo made a deal to sell two garden pots to a woman and gave the buyer her address. She was due to collect them the next day but messaged saying she couldn’t make it. The seller said she’d be home after 11am the next day, but she never showed up.
A week later on May 20, Ms Romeo received a message saying the buyer had had a family emergency which is why she hadn’t been in touch. She said a friend would pick up the pots on Friday, but the buyer again cancelled late at night saying the person couldn’t get there.
“I said ‘all good and thanks for letting me know’. It felt as thought I was being stuffed around and so I just left it at that,” said Ms Romeo.
She carried on with her Saturday chores, leaving her house for a few hours at a time, but was home by 4.30pm. On Sunday morning the buyer sent her a ‘thanks for the pots’ message.
“These pots weren’t visible from the road, they were in my backyard near the laundry, so this person must have just walked into our property and helped herself to the pots,” she said.
“The woman said her friend had got them but that I wasn’t home so she didn’t leave any money, but that she would come by the next afternoon and drop it off.”
Ms Romeo said she was shocked at the audacity of the buyer, particularly as no exchange arrangements were made. The buyer was able to access the backyard because the family is renovating and part of the fence is down.
When Ms Romeo asked the buyer to return the pots, she was told she could collect the items from outside a Monterey Keys home.
“Yes, I understand it’s only garden pots, but they should never have been taken, and now she expects me to go and pick them up, it’s all a bit odd.
“She then told me I should have a better security system to deter burglars from my home and that if she wasn’t such a nice honest person there could have been a worse outcome.”
Ms Romeo said the woman had offered to transfer money for the pots, but because she didn’t want this person taking items from someone else she’s referred the incident to the police.
“I’m not sure this isn’t a scam to get out of paying. Or who’s to say someone won’t come back and break it — it’s not OK.”
Ms Romeo suggested Marketplace give sellers’ street names to buyers in the first instance, then the house number once they arrive.
“Also be careful of giving out details of your movements, you never know who you might be dealing with.”
The Queensland Police Service spokesperson urged people to meet in a safe location such as a cafe or shopping centre, even better if it had CCTV.
“Internet marketplaces are convenient destinations to discover, buy and sell items with people in your local community,” she said.
“They can also be used by opportunistic offenders to sell stolen property or to commit robberies.
“Where possible, avoid meeting buyers at your home or allowing them entry to your home.”
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