Hamilton Police are warning people to be vigilant when conducting sales transactions through buy and sell websites. A 19-year-old Hamilton man has been charged in relation to a robbery during a Kijiji sales transaction. 

On Saturday, March 16, 2019, shortly before 7:00 p.m., the seller met the buyer in the area of Bay Street North and Cannon Street West to sell him a cellphone. They had arranged this sales transaction through Kijiji. The males were sitting in the seller's car when the buyer asked to see the phone. The seller began sensing something was wrong but handed the phone over. The buyer attempted to flee with the phone but the seller held onto him. In an effort to escape, the buyer sprayed the seller with an aerosol irritant believed to be related to pepper spray The buyer was able to escape but left behind his wallet.  A short time later he contacted police to claim he was a victim of a robbery where he was sprayed by an irritant and had lost his wallet while fleeing. 

Through investigation, police were able to determine the true events. The buyer was located and arrested. He was bound by court orders and his involvement in this incident led to additional charges being laid. 

The buyer appeared in court on Sunday, March 17, 2019, to answer to several charges. 

CHARGED

• Abdikadir Abdi, 19-years-of-age from Hamilton

CHARGES

• Robbery
• Administer noxious thing with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm
• Possession under $5000
• Fail to comply recognizance
• Fail to comply probation
• Fail to comply youth sentence X2

Hamilton Police recommend the public consider the following precautions to protect themselves from crimes of opportunity related to sales transactions with unknown people.  

• Meet in a public area, preferably during the daytime and where security surveillance exists
• Bring a friend or family member
• Watch out for last minute changes in the plan
• Don't give out personal banking information on the internet
• If you chose to conduct a cash transaction do not hand over the money or the product first.
• Use common sense, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is