Hamden Man Robbed At Gunpoint While Selling Sneakers: Police

NEW HAVEN, CT — A Hamden man who thought he was selling a pair of Jordan sneakers in a transaction he arranged through a website ended up a robbery victim instead Tuesday night in New Haven. The 29-year-old victim told police he was robbed of a “couple hundred bucks” at gunpoint after being cornered by three men, according to New Haven Police Spokesman Officer David Hartman.

At about 6:50 p.m. on June 5, New Haven Police responded to a Pond Street home after a caller reported that an armed white man ran into the backyard, according to Hartman. A witness told police that he saw a dark-colored Dodge Ram truck parked out front.

“A man got out and walked to the rear of the home,” Hartman wrote in a press release. “Moments later, the man emerged. Another man was with him. The witness said the two struggled and the Dodge driver yelled, ‘Give me back my (stuff)!’”

The driver then pulled a gun and chased the other man before returning to his truck and leaving, according to Hartman. While New Haven Police looked for the truck, its driver found a Hamden Police officer and told him that he’d been robbed just over the town line. New Haven Police met them on the 800 block of Dixwell Avenue.

The victim told police that he was robbed of a “couple hundred bucks,” according to Hartman.

“(The victim) said he’d planned to sell a pair of Jordan sneakers through a website named LetGo,” Hartman said. “He said instead of the planned sneaker exchange, he was cornered from three sides by men simulating they had guns. He said they took his truck keys and wallet. He said he struggled to get them back and was successful, all but for the cash inside.

“Another witness told the officers the three likely robbers fled to a nearby laundromat. One of the young men asked her if the bill changing machine could break a hundred. She reported one of the men had a gun on him.”

The victim described the three suspects as being between 15 and 18 years old. One was described as a chubby, light-complexioned black male and the second had a dark complexion, according to Hartman,

Hartman said video surveillance of the three suspects showed them as follows:

• Suspect 1: Dark complexioned black male, 15 to 18 years old, wearing all black colored clothing.
• Suspect 2: light complexioned black male, 15 to 18 years old, wearing a black colored hooded sweatshirt and denim blue jeans. He is chubby.
• Suspect 3: light complexioned black male, 15 to 18 years old, wearing a gray “Hollister” hooded sweatshirt. His hair is braided.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information that would be valuable to investigators, is urged to call police at 203-946-6316 or Text-A-Tip. Text “NHPD plus your message” to 274637 (CRIMES) Calls may be made anonymously.

See also:

Man Robbed During Date Night Ruse: Police

Man Assaulted, Robbed While Meeting Woman For ‘Massage’: Police

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