Men robbed at gunpoint in Glendale during Craiglist sale meet up
Two local 19-year-old men were robbed at gunpoint Thursday at a Glendale gas station after posting an ad on Craigslist to sell seven cell phones, police said.
One of the men had posted an ad on Craigslist for the cellphones, including two iPhones, according to the Glendale Police Department.
On Wednesday, he received a text message about 7:10 p.m. from someone interested in making the purchase. He arranged to meet the buyer on Thursday at the Mobil gas station.
He and his friend, who reside in La Crescenta and Glendale, arrived about 8:55 p.m. at gas station in the 900 block North Glendale Avenue when a black Nissan sedan parked in a spot closest to Mountain Street, police said.
The seller approached the Nissan, which was occupied by a driver and passenger. The driver asked him where the cell phones were as the passenger exited the Nissan.
He escorted the passenger to his vehicle, showed him the working cell phones and asked for the money.
The seller began counting the money, which appeared to be fake.
He asked the passenger to accompany him inside the gas station to check the money, but the passenger quickly drew a handgun from his clothes, police said.
The passenger threatened to shoot the seller and his friend if they ran, police said. He demanded the cell phones and the friend’s wallet, cigarettes, keys and phone, police said.
Fearing they could be shot if they didn’t comply, they complied, police said.
The seller’s friend told police he saw the Nissan drive away east on Mountain Street toward the Glendale (2) Freeway.
They described the passenger as being black, about 6 foot 4 inches tall with an average build. He was wearing a black hooded-sweatshirt, dark blue jeans and gray baseball cap. The driver was black and wearing a light gray sweater and gray baseball cap, police said.
Anyone with details about the robbery was encouraged to call the Police Department’s robbery detail at (818) 548-3987.
-- Veronica Rocha, Times Community News
Follow Veronica Rocha on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.