Sudbury cellphone sale goes wrong
Greater Sudbury Police Service say it has charged a man and a woman with multiple offences following the investigation into an online ad selling a cellular phone.
Police said they were called to a robbery in the community of Lively on Friday.
The victim had listed a phone for sale on an online classified forum.
“Two parties attended the seller’s residence under the guise of purchasing the phone,” said police in a news release Saturday.
“The seller was attacked with bear spray and the suspects fled to a waiting vehicle with her phone.”
EMS attended the residence and treated the seller at the scene.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Officers investigating the incident soon after discovered the phone appearing online for sale.
“Contact was made with the seller.”
Police said plain clothes officers arranged to meet the suspects at a predetermined location Saturday afternoon under the facade of purchasing the phone.
As a result, a 31-year-old female and a 34-year-old male were taken into custody without incident
“The victim’s phone was recovered,” police said.
Both accused are charged with robbery with a weapon, possession of stolen property, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, being unlawfully in a dwelling and administering a noxious thing.
The female is also charged with breaching a community supervision order.
Both are being held for a bail hearing.
“The names of the charged parties cannot be released as information has yet to be sworn before the courts,” said police.
None of the accusations has been proven in court.
Sudbury police have provided a set of guidelines to consider before buying or selling items online:
- Always meet in a public place preferably during daylight hours or in well-lit public venues and consider locations which have quality video surveillance.
- Where possible, bring another person with you.
- If you decide to purchase the item, use an e-transfer instead of carrying cash.
- Do not meet the person at your home if at all possible. If the person must come to your residence to view/retrieve the item, limit the access the prospective buyer has to only the area necessary to view the item and do not let them wander around your yard or house.
- Do not share unnecessary personal information with others.
- If the deal seems too good to be true – it probably is.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.