2 Brick Teens Arrested After Online Sale Turns Into Robbery: PD

BRICK, NJ — Two Brick Township teens have been arrested after police say they robbed a Brick man of a video game console he had agreed to sell them, police said.

The teens, both 17-year-old boys, were arrested Saturday evening, Brick Police Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

The incident happened about 3:45 p.m. Saturday. The teens, using the fake name "Chris Jenkins," had agreed to buy the console from the victim, who had listed it on the LetGo app. The victim and the two teens agreed to meet in front of 1112 Sawmill Road in the Maple Leaf Gardens apartment complex to make the exchange, Kelly said.

When the victim and the two teens met up, the teens asked for a ride to a nearby ATM to get money. The victim drove them to the ATM and then back to the meeting site on Sawmill. Oonce they got back to Sawmill, one of the teens got out of the vehicle and left the area, Kelly said.

The other stayed in the vehicle for a few minutes, then took the videogame console without giving the victim any money and began walking away. The victim followed the suspect, telling him to give the console back, the teen brandished a box cutter, so the victim stopped following him.

The victim went home and called police. Officers Harrison Thiebault, Joseph Lardieri, Ryan Wynn, Matthew Firneno, and K9 Officer Keith Prendeville responded, and while Thiebault and Lardieri talked with the victim, Patrolmen Wynn, Firneno and Prendeville searched the area for the two teens.

The victim gave police a statement at police headquarters to Detective Michael Bevacqua; meanwhile, the patrol officers learned who the teens were and Bevacqua and Thiebault, prepared the complaints were prepared charging one teen with robbery and weapons offenses, Kelly said.

Less than two hours after the robbery happened, Patrolmen Kevin Docherty and Ryan Wynn saw the suspects in the area of one's home in the Maple Leaf complex. Docherty arrested the primary suspect on robbery and weapons charges. The second suspect, who was not charged with the robbery, was found to be in possession of a knife and was charged with weapons offenses by Wynn, Kelly said.

The primary suspect is being held by the Juvenile Justice Commission, and the second suspect was released to a guardian. Their identities are being withheld due to their age.

"Chief (James) Riccio would like to remind everyone that we have a safe exchange zone for transactions made on the internet, such as Craigslist and letgo," Kelly said. The safe exchange zone is right behind the police station and is equipped with cameras are monitored.

Residents are encouraged to use it for exchanges such as this, and to never meet strangers in unfamiliar locations, Kelly said.

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