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Craigslist robbery victim recovering from bullet in jaw

Photos: One reportedly shot in face

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Staff Report Updated 6:41 PM Friday, December 24, 2010

TROTWOOD — A 19-year-old man is recovering from a gunshot wound to his jaw after two men robbed him Thursday night during what was supposed to be the sale of a dirt bike advertised on Craigslist.org.

Authorities said the shooting is part of a recent rash of local robberies involving items for sale on the popular website. Thursday’s robbery was the first involving a shooting.

Trotwood police Sgt. Fred Beck said the victim, the stepson of a Dayton police officer, was released from Miami Valley Hospital on Friday. He said doctors left the bullet in the man’s jaw, and that his injury is non-life threatening.

The victim’s name has not been released and no other details on his medical condition were available.

Beck said the man was shot in the face near Gardendale Avenue and Watkins Place about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The victim, accompanied by a woman, drove a pickup truck with the motor bike in its bed when they met two men for the sale.

One of the two men shot the seller in the face and apparently fled on the bike that was for sale.

The woman drove away the victim to Gardendale Avenue and Swinger Drive to get away from the shooter, police said. Dayton and Trotwood police spent much of Thursday night chasing the suspects near Good Samaritan Hospital. Beck said the victim’s ATV was recovered late Thursday at Salem Avenue and Harvard Boulevard. It had been abandoned.

Authorities said there have been a recent rash of robberies related to items for sale on Craigslist. Thursday’s robbery was the first involving a shooting. Some Craigslist victims have posted warnings on the website alerting people about the ATV robbery scam in the Dayton area. The website has more than 100 postings from sellers in the Miami Valley advertising motor bikes and parts.

One victim, who asked to remain anonymous because of a criminal investigation, told the Dayton Daily News his brother’s ATV was stolen this month after two men asked to test ride it when he delivered it to them in Trotwood. Once one of the men got on it, the robber rode off as his accomplice rode off on another ATV they came on together.

Craigslist officials could not be reached for comment.

Rasor advised people to be extremely careful when selling items on the popular website that allows free online classified postings, especially motor vehicles of any kind or other high dollar items.

Safety tips for selling online items:

• Insist on public meeting place; do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers into your home

• Don’t invite strangers into your home

• Be careful buying/selling high value items

• Tell friend, family where you’re going

• Take your cell phone

• Consider having a friend accompany you

• Trust your instincts

Source: Craigslist.org

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