Two individuals were detained by Sandwich Police in connection with an armed robbery that occurred during a Facebook Marketplace transaction. On January 14, a 22-year-old male from Sandwich reported being robbed by two suspects after attempting to sell watches online, as per Boston 25 News. Following the incident, the suspects were believed to have quickly left on foot, possibly to then enter a vehicle to escape.
Officers from the Sandwich Police Department, with the aid of the Mashpee Police Department's K-9 unit, responded to the scene. The investigation was further supported by the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit. Officers were able to identify and issue arrest warrants for 19-year-old Broderick Simoneau of Hyannis and 22-year-old Alexander Vakalopoulos of Centerville and Dennis. "Simoneau was arrested on January 23" and "On January 27, 2026, the Dennis Police Department located and arrested Vakalopoulos," as reported by Cape Wide News.
Simoneau and Vakalopoulos are both facing charges of armed robbery. The high degree of inter-agency collaboration was crucial in apprehending the suspects, involving efforts from Sandwich, Barnstable, Mashpee, and Dennis Police Departments, along with the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office and the Cape Cod Detective Network.
With online marketplaces becoming increasingly common for transactions, the Sandwich Police Department has stressed the importance of exercising caution. "Residents are encouraged to choose safe exchange locations, taking into consideration public settings and the time of day," a statement obtained by Cape Wide News and Boston 25 News.
