Angry Mom Helps Catch Man Accused Of Craigslist Theft
Thinking of selling diamonds or engagement rings on Craigslist Read this first.
SEATTLE — A Snoqualmie mother helped police in the arrest of a man Monday who is accused of stealing people’s engagement rings, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.
Janet Barto said her son Brad had his engagement broken and wanted to sell the ring on the Craigslist Web site.
She said a man claiming to be a diamond broker purchased the ring for $5,200 but his check turned out to be a forgery.
An angry Barto started contacting others on Craigslist to warn them. One person said he was contacted by a similar man, so Barto had the Web site user set up a meeting with the man and then contacted Snoqualmie police.
The man and the alleged ring thief were set to meet at a Starbucks in lower Queen Anne while undercover police waited inside the building as well as outside in a truck in a nearby parking lot.
The police had waited 45 minutes when a man wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase arrived. The victim, Brad, identified the man and the task force moved in and arrested him.
The man could force fraud and forgery charges in court on Tuesday.
Investigators said they found several diamonds on the man but none of them was Brad’s.
Police said other victims may come forward.