Presented by Public Information Officer Master Corporal Jeffrey R. Hale

Dover, DE- Delaware State Police are currently investigating an armed robbery which occurred at a Dover area apartment complex yesterday afternoon.

The initial investigation has determined that the incident occurred at approximately 4:10 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2016, after an 18 year man agreed to meet an unknown subject at the Alder Park Apartments, located at 51 Webbs Lane, Dover, in order to buy a cellular phone. The victim and the unknown subject had set up the meeting through the website “Let Go”. As the victim arrived at the apartment complex, he was approached by a male subject. The victim advised him that he was there to meet someone possibly by the name of “Joy”. The subject advised the victim that he was familiar with “Joy” and escorted him to the basement of one of the buildings. It was at this point that the male subject produced an unknown make and model gun and demanded money from the victim. The 18 year old victim complied with the suspect’s demands and turned over an undisclosed amount of money to him. The suspect then fled from the building. The victim was not injured.

The suspect was described as a black male. He was 5’08” tall, weighed approximately 180 lbs., and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.

The Delaware State Police would like to offer the following safety tips to help you avoid becoming a robbery victim when selling or buying items on-line.

1. Trust your instincts.
2. Don’t go alone.
3. Insist to meet at a public place such as a police station.
4. Do not meet in a secluded area.
5. Do not invite strangers into your home, and do not go to theirs.
6. Be cautious when buying/selling high value items.
7. Perform the transaction during daylight hours.
8. If it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.
9. Tell a friend or family member about your intentions.
10. Take your cell phone with you.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact Detective Paul Surowiec at 302-741-2814. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DSPNewsroom/ or Twitter at https://twitter.com/DEStatePolice. To find out more about how to get your community involved in the Nextdoor application, please click on the following link: https://nextdoor.com/.

Released: 072316 1540

-End-

Print This Page