The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public's help to locate a suspect connected to a robbery in Southeast D.C. The incident involved a prearranged meeting between the victim and the suspect to conduct a transaction from Facebook Marketplace, which quickly turned south.
The robbery took place on Thursday, August 8, 2024, around 11:20 a.m. on the 1200 block of Marion Barry Avenue, Southeast. According to the MPD, the suspect ran off with the victim's cash just as they were about to close the sale. Efforts to immediately locate the suspect were futile, leading the department to now actively seek assistance from the community. Anyone with information is urged to not personally intervene, but to instead reach out to police at (202) 727-9099 or to anonymously text a tip to 50411.
In light of the robbery, the MPD has reiterated the importance of using designated Safe Exchange Zones when completing online marketplace transactions. These zones are strategically located at police stations and the Special Operations Division’s Harbor Patrol, creating a more secure environment for such exchanges and reducing the risk of crimes like the recent one. The public is advised to be cautious, particularly when the other party resists the idea of meeting at these safer locations.
Locations for the MPD Safe Exchange Zones include the First District Station at 101 M Street SW, the Fourth District Station at 6001 Georgia Avenue NW, among others listed on the MPD's website. In addition, a reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in connection with the crime.
