Incident/Complaint#: 50-19-1944
Date/Time: Saturday, January 19th, 2019 at 8:32PM
Location: 400 Block of Country Drive, Dover, DE
Officer Releasing Information: M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is investigating a robbery that occurred in the parking lot of Country Village Apartments on Saturday evening at approximately 8:32PM. At that time, a 50-year-old male victim was in the parking lot of the apartment complex waiting to meet an alleged seller from the “LetGo” mobile app to purchase a cell phone. He was approached by a black male suspect who snatched the phone from him and fled in a grey colored Pontiac G6 sedan. The victim fell to the ground as a result of the suspect snatching the phone from him, causing minor abrasions to his arm.
Incident/Complaint#: 50-19-2011
Date/Time: Sunday, January 20th, 2019 at 7:16PM
Location: Hamlet Shopping Center, 1035 Walker Road, Dover, DE
Officer Releasing Information: M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is investigating a robbery that occurred in the parking lot of the Hamlet Shopping Center on Walker Road that occurred at approximately 7:16PM on Sunday evening. A male and female victim agreed to meet a “buyer” of a cell phone from the “LetGo” mobile app in the parking lot. Upon arrival, a black male exited a blue or purple Honda CR-V and entered the back seat of the victim’s vehicle. The suspect (described as a black male in his mid-20’s, tall with a slim build) displayed a handgun and demanded their belongings. The suspect then fled with two cell phones and entered the Dollar General in the shopping center, fleeing shortly after.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at http://www.tipsubmit.com
These incidents mark the 2nd and 3rd such incidents in a 10-day period involving a secondhand sales mobile app. The first occurred on January 10th in the parking lot of Country Village Apartments (See: Robbery in Parking Lot of Country Village Apts).
The Dover Police Department would like to remind the community that the department allows the use of the parking lot, front entrance, and surrounding areas of the police department for online sales meets. Buyers and sellers may also utilize the porch area of the front entrance to the police department under the overhang, but must not hinder the anyone’s ability to enter or exit the department. Please keep in mind that the department nor any of its employees will act as a witness to a sale or be involved in any agreements or civil matters involving sales once completed. The Dover Police Department is simply allowing a safe haven for sales to take place without interrupting police operations or access to police services. The Dover Police Department is also sharing the following tips for those who choose not to use the designated department locations:
- Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe, shopping center parking lot, etc.
- Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
- ONLY meet during daylight hours or in well-lit and heavily populated areas.
- Be especially careful buying/selling high value items.
- Consider making high-value exchanges at your local police station.
- Tell a friend or family member where you’re going or when you’re having a buyer/seller in your home.
- Take your cell phone along if you have one.
- Consider having a friend accompany you.
- Trust your instincts.
