Five suspects have been apprehended by Laval Police for their involvement in a series of robberies linked to Facebook Marketplace transactions. The Crimes Against Persons squad of the Laval Police arrested five young men, aged between 19 and 22, on December 10 in connection with three robbery incidents that reportedly occurred between 2023 and 2024 in the Vimont and Auteuil neighborhoods in Laval.
According to police reports, the suspects engaged sellers on Facebook Marketplace to buy electronic items. However, instead of completing the transactions as genuine buyers, the suspects, pretending to be interested buyers, would abscond with the items during the exchange. In some instances, the victims were subjected to pepper spray to aid the suspects in their escape, while in other cases, the suspects resorted to threatening the victims with a knife.
During the search that took place on December 10, investigators not only made the arrests but also seized evidence related to other robbery cases. The operation involved collaboration with officers from the RCMP and Sûreté du Québec.
As the holiday season approaches, law enforcement authorities are cautioning the public to exercise vigilance while engaging in online transactions on platforms such as Marketplace and Kijiji.
It is important to note that the allegations against the suspects have yet to be substantiated in court.
