Man Robbed in Worcester After Using Phone App to Purchase Laptop

Monday, January 09, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The use of the phone app “offer up” to arrange the purchase of a laptop led to a man being robbed at gunpoint in Worcester on New Year’s Day.

"Offer Up" is a phone app which allows users to arrange to purchase items from each other.

Detectives are currently working to identify the suspect(s) involved.

The Incident

On January 1, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Worcester Police were sent to an address on Cutler Street for an Armed Robbery that had just occurred. Upon arrival, police met with a 25-year-old man. The investigation revealed that the victim had been in contact with a person he believed to be a woman over the phone app “Offer Up.”

After several texts, the man arranged to purchase a laptop from the woman. The purchase was supposed to happen on Cutler Street. When the victim arrived at the intended meet location in his car, and an unknown Hispanic man came out of nowhere and approached the passenger side door. The man told the victim that he had the laptop and entered the car. Once inside the victim’s car, the suspect pulled out a black gun, pointed it at the victim, and demanded the money.

The victim handed the money over to the suspect, and the suspect left the car on foot.

Detectives are currently working to identify the suspect(s) involved.

Police urge those making transactions through “Offer Up” or similar services to arrange meetings in public areas that are well lit and populated. Police also would like to discourage people from entering into homes or vehicles they are not familiar with.

Police Asking for Help

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message by clicking here.