On Sunday, January 6, 2019, at 9:55 p.m., Beaumont Police responded to the Pine Club Apartments located at 5015 Pine St in reference to Robbery in Progress. When Officers arrived, they located a victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. The victim stated that he arrived at this location to purchase a vehicle from an online seller. The victim was approached by the suspect who immediately began to demand money while brandishing a handgun. The suspect fired the handgun and struck the victim in the arm, then fled on foot inside the complex. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries. The suspect has not been identified. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Beaumont Police at 409-832-1234 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (8477). You can also submit tips anonymously through www.833TIPS.com or by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone.
The Beaumont Police Department would like to reiterate the importance of using caution when purchasing items from individual sellers online. Here are some safety tips.
Always meet in a public place, preferably during the daytime. We welcome buy/sell transactions in front of BPD
Bring someone with you
If the price/item seems too good to be true, it probably is
Watch out for red flags- if the seller/buyer is unwilling to meet in a public place (like the police department), if the seller/buyer constantly changes the time and location of the meet, if the seller/buyer is using a new or fake profile
Ask questions and make sure the answers make sense for what is being sold/purchased
