Between Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, and Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, the EPS received five reports of personal robberies in northwest Edmonton.In each instance, a citizen reportedly responded to or posted an ad regarding a tablet or mobile phone that was for sale on an online buy and sell website and agreed to meet a buyer/seller in person at varying locations.Upon arrival, the citizen was robbed of their device and/or cash, in some cases under the threat of a weapon. As violence began to escalate with each incident, the EPS issued a public warning on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. At the time, only minor injuries were reported by complainants.
Investigators have confirmed that all five robberies were linked and have since determined six additional personal robberies that took place in August and September 2022 are also part of this series, including one robbery that took place in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. One of the additional robberies also resulted in non-life-threatening injuries. In total, more than $16,000 in property was reported stolen as a result of these robberies, with thieves primarily targeting buyers/sellers with high priced phones and tablets for sale/purchase on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
In September and October 2023, the EPS arrested three male suspects alleged to be responsible for the robberies. Decontie Chea, 19,Everisto Yousif, 20, and a 19-year-old male who was a youth at the time of the offences are facing a combined total of 11 robbery charges. The male who was a youth at the time has also been charged with using an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence (x2).
“We are grateful to have made arrests in this series,” says Staff Sergeant Andrew Larson with the EPS Investigative Response Team. “Personal robbery can be a traumatic experience, particularly when threatened with a weapon, and we are hopeful these arrests will bring some closure to those citizens impacted.”
Police continue to remind citizens buying/selling items online to take precautions.
Online Buying & Selling Safety Tips
- Suggest meeting the buyer/seller during the day at a public location, ideally with video surveillance, such as one of the EPS Buy and Sell Exchange Zones. Do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers into your home.
- Have someone come with you when you meet. If you cannot arrange for someone to accompany you, let friends or family know where you are going, what time you are meeting and all the details about who you are meeting, Let your contact know that everything is ok.
- Take screenshots of the buyer’s/seller’s contact information and all communications in the application or website you are using. Ask them for photo ID and other contact information and take a photo of it for your reference.
- If you are robbed of your belongings, call for help as soon as it is safe to do so and report any suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities to police.