Ellicott City Teen Arrested in Craigslist Theft Scheme

Police announced Thursday they charged a 17-year-old Ellicott City male with operating a theft scheme through Craigslist.

Police arrested the teen, whose name has not been released, after linking a phone number he used to three robberies in June in which he lured victims to him to rob them.

In one incident, police said a woman responded to a Craigslist ad and met a man in the 5300 block of Kerger Road to buy an iPhone 5 from him. When she pulled out the cash, he pulled out an iPhone case and gave it to her, but she quickly realized the case was empty, according to police. At that point, the suspect pushed her down and ran, but she ran after him and was able to rip his backpack off him, said police. The backpack contained an identification card that police used to help identify the suspect.

In another incident, police said the teen arranged to trade an iPhone 5 for an electronic gaming system on June 15. When the victim arrived, the teen asked to test the gaming system to make sure it worked, but instead he took the system, two controllers, a wireless headset and a backpack, according to police.

In a third incident, an unreported theft on June 12, police said the teen took $200 from another victim responding to a Craigslist ad.

The 17-year-old is being detained at the The Charles Hickey, Jr. School, a juvenile facility located in Baltimore. He was charged with theft, robbery, second-degree assault and operating a theft scheme.

Police reminded residents using Craigslist to deal locally with buyers or sellers you can meet in person, never wire funds, do not give out personal or financial information and to pick a public place for your meeting.