A Coquitlam man was arrested last week in connection with a bear-spray robbery in Burnaby in January.
Police responded to reports of a robbery in the area of Halifax Street and Phillips Avenue just after 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, according to an RCMP news release Wednesday.
"The victim reported that he met with an unknown man in order to sell some items after advertising them online," stated the release. "The suspect approached the victim and, once he had the items in his possession, pepper sprayed the victim before fleeing the scene."
The suspect was gone before police arrived, according to police.
After an investigation, however, police executed a search warrant on a Coquitlam residence on Feb. 18, and one man was arrested.
The investigation is ongoing.
But Burnaby RCMP is cautioning local residents to be careful when using online platforms to buy and sell items.
"We know people are going to use these platforms, but we're just asking them to be cautious, especially when arranging a meeting where money and property are to be exchanged," Burnaby RCMP Sgt. Aly Mohan said in the release.
Safety tips:
- Check the person's profile before buying or selling a product online
- Meet in public, during daylight hours
- Take a friend with you
- Avoid inviting unknown people into your home to buy or sell anything
- If you have been a victim of a robbery or a fraud, call police and do not engage with the suspect yourself
