Offer Up App Lets Thieves Quickly Sell Stolen Goods: Police

GERMANTOWN, MD — More than $20,000 worth of camera equipment and laptops stolen from a vehicle on Christmas Day was found – along with the suspected thieves – on an app called Offer Up.

The online marketplace is described by The New York Times as a growing alternative to Craigslist. What makes Offer Up different is its smartphone app, which can make listing items for sale much easier. Sellers post a picture of the items they want to sell using the mobile app and post the listing with a few more commands.

And while Offer Up promotes its trusted user and safety features, Montgomery County Police say that is where the victim found some of his missing camera gear being offered for sale just two hours later.

Police have charged Casey A. Mulloy, 20, of Gaithersburg and Kyle Pestun, 27, of Damascus, with theft, for allegedly breaking into the vehicle in Germantown and stealing over $20,000 worth of camera equipment. Police said they couldn’t confirm addresses for the suspects; the hometowns given were listed in online court records.

The victim reported about noon on Christmas Day that the items were stolen from his vehicle that was parked on Diamond Hill Court in Germantown. Equipment taken included two infrared cameras, a 12 megapixel digital camera, a 70-200mm camera lens, gear motor, circuit boards, Beats by Dre earphones, iPod Nano, and two laptops.

About 2 p.m., a neighbor suggested the victim search the Offer Up phone app to see if the stolen property was listed for sale. After checking the app, the victim saw one of the stolen infrared cameras and missing earphones for sale on the site and called the person listed as the seller of the property.

A meeting was set to purchase the property and police were notified. About 6 that night, police officers arrived at the Rite Aid located at 19927 Century Blvd. in Germantown in an unmarked vehicle and posed as the potential buyers.

Mulloy and Pestun were arrested when they reportedly showed the undercover officers the stolen property. Pestun allegedly had the stolen iPod Nano with him at the time of the arrest. Officers found the remaining stolen property and returned the items to the victim.

The suspects were charged with one count of theft: $10,000 to under $100,000, one count of theft: less than $100, two counts of rogue and vagabond, and one count of conspiracy. Mulloy was released after posting a $2,600 bond. Pestun was ordered to be held on a $7,500 bond.

Police believe there may be more victims of these thefts who have not reported the incidents to police. Anyone who has been a victim of a theft from vehicle and has not reported it is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

Police are again urging residents to lock their vehicle doors and remove items of value so they are not easy targets for thieves.

»Photos of Casey Mulloy, left, and Kyle Pestun, courtesy of Montgomery County Police