Facebook Marketplace sellers warned after brazen attack in Cranbourne
A man has issued a warning to sellers on the Facebook Marketplace after he was attacked in broad daylight at a busy carpark in Cranbourne while attempting to sell his iPhone.
South East
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A man was punched in the stomach and had his mobile phone stolen after he met a stranger who had agreed to buy the phone.
Vin, who wanted his last name withheld, advertised his iPhone XS on the Facebook Marketplace and agreed to meet a potential buyer at Bunnings Warehouse in Cranbourne North on Tuesday, October 16.
He said he scanned the man’s Facebook profile beforehand and it appeared to be legitimate and he met him just before 6pm.
“I met at the Bunnings carpark — that was full at the time and he shook my hand and asked me all the right questions and while he was holding the phone he said so what did we agree on $1600 or $1700?
“That’s when I clicked — we agreed on $1450 and within a split second he punched me and I fell to the ground and he ran off.”
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Vin said he was shaken by the encounter, but jumped into his car to chase after him.
“I then saw him meet up with a friend and I cornered them in my car but there was nothing I could do — I didn’t want to risk my safety again or have other items stolen.”
“I then continued to follow them and I did get out of the car at one point but they jumped a fence — I kept yelling at them to stop and screamed ‘you don’t have a conscience’.”
“There is constant attacks like this that keep on happening in Cranbourne. The police are doing everything they can but the courts aren’t tough enough on these thugs who keep reoffending.”
Vin said he had started a change.org petition “calling for tougher sentences” and he urged people selling items online or social media to take care.
“People need to be vigilant — I will now get prospective buyers to send me a video of them to verify it’s them and to have a record of them.”
A Victoria Police spokesman said Casey detectives were investigating the incident.
“Investigators have been told a man arranged to sell his mobile phone through Facebook,” the spokesman said.
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“The victim met up with a man at a business in Thompsons Road about 5.55pm was punched by the offender who grabbed the phone and fled on foot.”
The man is described as being of Middle Eastern appearance, 180cm, stocky build with short dark curly hair and wearing a black puffer jacket and black jeans.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.