RCMP are investigating after a man was robbed at gunpoint during a sale of property, arranged online (File photo/battlefordsNOW.com).

By Ian Roach

Online SALE ROBBERY

Safe meet up location explored after gunpoint robbery

Sep 28, 2022 | 4:10 PM

Battlefords RCMP are investigating after a man was robbed at gunpoint during an arranged meeting for an online sale.

The victim’s cellphone and some cash were stolen. He was not injured in the incident.

Police say they received a report of a robbery just before 1 p.m. on Sept. 25. Online, the victim had arranged to meet with an unknown man to sell some property. At the last minute, the victim says the suspect changed the location to the area of 108 Street and 9 Avenue in North Battleford. When the victim arrived, he was approached by a lone male with a firearm. His phone and cash were taken, and the suspect fled the scene.

Battlefords RCMP Sgt. Neil Tremblay said a last-minute change in location is a bad sign.

“It should be a red flag to you that if somebody wants to change [at the] last second, and meet somewhere that’s more isolated, with [it] less likely to have witnesses and cameras. That should be a bit of a red flag that possibly their intent is to not only just to proceed with a fair exchange of goods,” he said.

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Other cities like Prince Albert and Saskatoon have created safe exchange areas. Usually those are public areas with good lighting where people can meet to conduct sales arranged online. The Saskatoon safe exchange location is located right outside the police station.

Tremblay said they have had some discussions about making a safe exchange location for the Battlefords.

“We’re just going to look at where might be some of the good options and then to proceed from there. And make sure it is in partnership with the city so that we’re taking everybody’s concerns into account,” he said.

RCMP are still investigating the Sept. 25 incident.