Posted on Oct 19, 2015
Are you aware of the dangers of using Craigslist?
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There have been a large number of crimes suspected and proven to have been committed through the posting of ads on Craigslist.
Craigslist seems like a great way to be thrifty and find great deals but beware that it is used by predators to find victims. Murderers, Rapists, Thieves... have all used Craigslist to aid in the goal of committing their crime. We only know about the ones that are caught or suspected.
If you're using Craigslist to buy or sell an item you should be extremely careful about where and when you meet someone and the information that he or she has about you.
Follow guidelines to ensure your safety.
Insist on meeting in a public place, a place like a cafe.
Refuse to meet in a secluded place.
Do not invite strangers into your home.
If buying or selling a high value item be especially careful and wary of potential scams. Never wire money without completing verification.
Insist on making high value exchanges at your local police station or if large items in the Police station parking lot.
Take a friend with you if you can. Be sure you tell a friend or family member where you're going, who you are meeting, what it is for, leave the contact information you have for that person with a friend or family member.
Have a check system in place. If you don't report in or come back within a certain amount of time and they cannot reach you by cell phone or other arranged manner, your family member or friend should report all the information they have to the Police immediately.
Consider having a friend accompany you.
Trust your instincts. If you have a "gut" instinct something isn't right, go with it and either don't meet the person or get away as quickly as you can. Make up an excuse I didn't bring the item or money... I have to go get it I'll be right back.....
These are some of the crimes suspected to and proven to be related to Craigslist, this year alone. Please be careful out there and warn your Soldiers.
"Police say the body of a 22-year-old Robert Lovings Polk of St. Louis was found Thursday. A St. Louis man who went missing nearly two weeks ago. Polk was meeting someone on Newstead about a black Mustang posted for sale on Craigslist, but since he left to meet the seller, no one had heard from him. Oct 3, 2015
An alleged killer is in jail, suspected of killing a 19-year-old college student who posted a Craigslist ad. Taylor Clark was attempting to sell his car on the website and investigators say he met with 24-year-old Michael Gordon to test drive his vehicle. That’s when Gordon allegedly shot Clark. May 2015
The grisly cutting of a fetus from a woman began with a Craigslist ad about baby clothes for sale. Michelle Wilkins, a 26-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant, arrived at the seller's home just before noon Wednesday in Longmont, Colorado. She was able to save herself by calling 911, her baby died. March 2015
Clark Atlanta University student, 21-year-old James Jones, was robbed, shot, and killed when he responded to a Craigslist ad for an iPhone. Jordan Baker, 19, Jonathon Myles, 19, and Kaylnn Ruthenberg, 21, were arrested by Marietta detectives, and have all been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and felony murder. February 2015
Cobb County couple Bud and June Runion were murdered when they were lured to Telfair County in south Georgia with a vintage car ad on Craigslist. Police say the elderly couple were both shot in the head. Ronnie Jay Towns was indicted on two counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, and two counts of armed robbery. There was no car. " January 2015
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/19/legal-watch--rash-of-craigslist-crimes/25031347/
Craigslist seems like a great way to be thrifty and find great deals but beware that it is used by predators to find victims. Murderers, Rapists, Thieves... have all used Craigslist to aid in the goal of committing their crime. We only know about the ones that are caught or suspected.
If you're using Craigslist to buy or sell an item you should be extremely careful about where and when you meet someone and the information that he or she has about you.
Follow guidelines to ensure your safety.
Insist on meeting in a public place, a place like a cafe.
Refuse to meet in a secluded place.
Do not invite strangers into your home.
If buying or selling a high value item be especially careful and wary of potential scams. Never wire money without completing verification.
Insist on making high value exchanges at your local police station or if large items in the Police station parking lot.
Take a friend with you if you can. Be sure you tell a friend or family member where you're going, who you are meeting, what it is for, leave the contact information you have for that person with a friend or family member.
Have a check system in place. If you don't report in or come back within a certain amount of time and they cannot reach you by cell phone or other arranged manner, your family member or friend should report all the information they have to the Police immediately.
Consider having a friend accompany you.
Trust your instincts. If you have a "gut" instinct something isn't right, go with it and either don't meet the person or get away as quickly as you can. Make up an excuse I didn't bring the item or money... I have to go get it I'll be right back.....
These are some of the crimes suspected to and proven to be related to Craigslist, this year alone. Please be careful out there and warn your Soldiers.
"Police say the body of a 22-year-old Robert Lovings Polk of St. Louis was found Thursday. A St. Louis man who went missing nearly two weeks ago. Polk was meeting someone on Newstead about a black Mustang posted for sale on Craigslist, but since he left to meet the seller, no one had heard from him. Oct 3, 2015
An alleged killer is in jail, suspected of killing a 19-year-old college student who posted a Craigslist ad. Taylor Clark was attempting to sell his car on the website and investigators say he met with 24-year-old Michael Gordon to test drive his vehicle. That’s when Gordon allegedly shot Clark. May 2015
The grisly cutting of a fetus from a woman began with a Craigslist ad about baby clothes for sale. Michelle Wilkins, a 26-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant, arrived at the seller's home just before noon Wednesday in Longmont, Colorado. She was able to save herself by calling 911, her baby died. March 2015
Clark Atlanta University student, 21-year-old James Jones, was robbed, shot, and killed when he responded to a Craigslist ad for an iPhone. Jordan Baker, 19, Jonathon Myles, 19, and Kaylnn Ruthenberg, 21, were arrested by Marietta detectives, and have all been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and felony murder. February 2015
Cobb County couple Bud and June Runion were murdered when they were lured to Telfair County in south Georgia with a vintage car ad on Craigslist. Police say the elderly couple were both shot in the head. Ronnie Jay Towns was indicted on two counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, and two counts of armed robbery. There was no car. " January 2015
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/19/legal-watch--rash-of-craigslist-crimes/25031347/
Posted in these groups: 
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Crime
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 14
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I use Craigslist quite often and luckily I've been blessed to not have any issues, but I keep my head on a swivel and I NEVER agree to meet anyone without someone with me as backup, meet in public places, or meet them ANYWHERE without a weapon(s) on me. I've had large sums of cash when I've bought vehicles, and people who might act ignorant get a sudden case of "Act Right" when they see that I'm quite serious and have a weapon(s) on me. You HAVE to protect yourself with any site like this, and trust no one.
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SSG Warren Swan
CW3 Bernard"Chief" Collier - Knuckle game is great. I even prefer that, but reality is a 15 round magazine trumps my use of hands. Have to go with the thought of gaining the high ground and victory through the use of superior firepower in a controlled yet overwhelming burst. I have every intention of going home alive. But still I haven't had to resort to that yet...thank goodness. I've mitigated it nicely with some hurt feelings on both sides, but no violence.
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CW3 Bernard"Chief" Collier
You obviously missed what I was trying to say. There is no mitigation of danger in the world. I grew up in NY. I'm not scared to carry large sums of cash, but I don't. But there are safety precautions and alternatives, such as treasury checks, etc. I'm definitely not going to see someone who I never met with a large sum of cash in hand in a location I don't know. I'm not going to put myself in that situation. NY taught me better than that
I have done security at church where we handle large sums of cash every weekend. But precautions were put in place. I have purchased homes at auctions for cash, but I did not bring cash. I managed over 80 rental properties at a time and collected rents (Large amounts of possible cash, you do the math) but we did not accept cash, as a precaution.
Obviously you carry large sums of money at times (a dollar is not). Which by the way is not good to announce (another precaution). I'm just saying, a gun is not always the answer. Pre-cautions, to me, is the answer. At the end of the day, a real criminal is not scared of the gun. I think that was more of the point CPT Cannonie was making
I rather use my precautions and raise my kids from this side of the cell. Or live with the regret of taking a life over few dollars. I'd rather not put myself in that situation in the beginning. Putting myself in the situation is really what I was try to state about the gun. If you need it, you in the wrong situation. Unless you a cop or the Brinks man where it's a requirement. For ordinary citizens it's not. I don't live in a world of fear. I refuse to let terrorists force me to live in it and I'm not going to let a criminal make me live in it.
I hope you don't take offense to what I said. It's just an opinion.
I have done security at church where we handle large sums of cash every weekend. But precautions were put in place. I have purchased homes at auctions for cash, but I did not bring cash. I managed over 80 rental properties at a time and collected rents (Large amounts of possible cash, you do the math) but we did not accept cash, as a precaution.
Obviously you carry large sums of money at times (a dollar is not). Which by the way is not good to announce (another precaution). I'm just saying, a gun is not always the answer. Pre-cautions, to me, is the answer. At the end of the day, a real criminal is not scared of the gun. I think that was more of the point CPT Cannonie was making
I rather use my precautions and raise my kids from this side of the cell. Or live with the regret of taking a life over few dollars. I'd rather not put myself in that situation in the beginning. Putting myself in the situation is really what I was try to state about the gun. If you need it, you in the wrong situation. Unless you a cop or the Brinks man where it's a requirement. For ordinary citizens it's not. I don't live in a world of fear. I refuse to let terrorists force me to live in it and I'm not going to let a criminal make me live in it.
I hope you don't take offense to what I said. It's just an opinion.
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SSG Warren Swan
Sir, no offense taken. I see what you mean, and cannot nor will not discount it. At the same time, I've experienced what I have and those experiences led me to do things the way I do. There's no real right or wrong answer, and not everyone is your friend when it comes to buying anything. Chief to me two nickels is a lot of money. I'm rich if I have three. But when buying cars or other large purchase items I wouldn't tell the person I have anything. I also agree with you in not living in a world of fear, but I'm not anymore than you are, blind to the ignorance in it. We're two different folks who probably do the same things in just different ways.
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CPT (Join to see)
I've used CL before. I decided to rent out a few rooms in my house and used it to find a renter. I ended up renting the rooms to a single mom and her 3 kids and I ran a background check on the woman. I had no issues. I did end up evicting her, but for other reasons.
Other than that, I haven't bought anything from CL but have sold a few items. If I ever DO buy something, it would probably be a vehicle or motorcycle, and only from a dealer.
I've used CL before. I decided to rent out a few rooms in my house and used it to find a renter. I ended up renting the rooms to a single mom and her 3 kids and I ran a background check on the woman. I had no issues. I did end up evicting her, but for other reasons.
Other than that, I haven't bought anything from CL but have sold a few items. If I ever DO buy something, it would probably be a vehicle or motorcycle, and only from a dealer.
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CPT (Join to see)
PO1 John Miller I'm glad you didn't have any problems. Just remember to always take precautions to ensure your safety and that of your family.
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PO1 John Miller
CPT (Join to see)
Oh trust me. As an IT professional and military veteran, I am all about personal safety! :)
Oh trust me. As an IT professional and military veteran, I am all about personal safety! :)
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Have to be careful on Craigslist. There are a lot of scams involving Western Union checks on there when people want to pay with W.U.. I suggest if selling or buying an item require them to use PayPal or other legit online payment system. If you accept a mailed personal check tell them you will not ship an item to them until the check 100% clears. If selling or buying in person to an unknown individual always have someone else with you and I suggest one of you be armed and very wary. More than a few people have been lured to other cities only to be robbed and/or killed .
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Cpl James Waycasie
CW3 Bernard"Chief" Collier - The age old saying if it's too good to be true, it probably not true. Most of that grant propaganda is where they want to sell you info on how you can apply for grants. The info is really free if people would do the leg work to find it. These people just compile the info for you and you buy it. Doesn't mean you will get the grant. To me it's a scam but it's legal, lol. Anyone can sell free info. The Bible itself has no copywrite. If you buy a Thompson or a Nelson Bible you can't copywrite their foot notes and add ons , but the Bible itself anyone can print and give away , sell, etc.
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CW3 Bernard"Chief" Collier
I agree. But I was contacted with the approach of...I just deciding how to spend my grant. I saw you name too. But I never applied
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