Witness appeal after victim 'threatened with knife' when buying coat
Wiltshire Police are warning people to be careful when buying things online
Police have bailed an 18-year-old man in connection with a victim being threatened with a knife during the trade of a coat, agreed on an online marketplace.
It happened on Friday afternoon (3 January) between 5pm and 6pm on Chives Way when cash was handed over.
Officers are reminding people of the dangers of using the internet to buy and sell goods.
Wiltshire Police said: "The suspect has advertised a coat on an online marketplace and when the victim has met with the suspect and handed over cash, the suspect has refused to hand over the coat, threatening the victim with a knife.
"Anyone that may have witnessed the incident, or has Ring Doorbell footage, is asked to get in contact with us on 101 quoting reference 54250000931.
"An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with this incident and has been bailed while enquiries continue."
They're giving this advice to people of the dangers of using non-regulated marketplaces to buy and sell goods:
- Private marketplaces are often used by criminals and rogue traders whose intention it is to fraudulently sell items online
- Officers say it's important be careful when using private marketplaces that do not conform to the same standards as regular stores - because you are much more open to being scammed or a victim of crime
They say you need to look out for the following:
- Look out to see if the seller has a new or blank account
- Check for negative reviews of the seller
- Think to yourself if the price is too good to be true
- There could be an ulterior motive if the seller is unwilling for secure payment such as bank transfer
- Always try to meet in a public place to avoid any dodgy dealings