Recent arrest spotlights dangers of online deals

Police say Stratford case provides alert regarding private sales

Stratford police say a recent robbery arrest illustrates the dangers of buying and selling items privately after online posts.

Shahiem Donald, 18, of Ansonia, faces first-degree robbery, third-degree assault and fifth-degree larceny charges in connection with an April 23

robbery, police said Wednesday.

The victim placed a Facebook Marketplace ad to sell an iphone and met Donald at a pre-arranged location, where Donald assaulted the victim and stole his phone, police said. The victim said he saw a handgun during the robbery, police said.

Stratford detectives, working with Bridgeport police, identified Donald as a suspect and later found that he and co-conspirators were contacting people throughout Fairfield County to either buy or sell iphones and other items, police said. Donald and his crew would then use force to steal phones and other valuables, police said.

Police throughout the state have warned people who are buying or selling items in private deals to arrange meetings in safe places, including police-station parking lots.

The investigation into

Donald and his co-conspirators, police said, continues and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Torres or Detective Policano at 203-3812098.