Another ATV Stolen During Craigslist Test Drive in Shaker Heights

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH - It may seem like an obvious lesson, but be wary of buyers on Craigslist. For the second time in about two weeks, an ATV was stolen during a Craigslist meet-up. Again, the thief told the seller he wanted to take the vehicle on a "test drive" and simply never came back.

This time a Powell, Ohio resident lost their 2006, yellow Yamaha Quad after an unknown suspect said they wanted to take the vehicle on a test drive. The suspect took the vehicle down Westbury Road and never came back.

A similar incident occurred Oct. 20. A Greenville, Pennsylvania man reported that a man who had agreed to purchase an ATV requested a test drive of the vehicle. The suspect then stole the ATV, riding off with it.

Police say the suspects are likely from the Cleveland area and have been luring sellers to the Shaker Heights-Cleveland border. Police say they may be capitalizing on Shaker's reputation for being safe. Suspects then drive into Cleveland knowing that it creates jurisdictional issues and problems with cross-department communication.

The department also pointed out that there is almost nowhere legal to drive an ATV in Shaker. If you're being lured into the city to sell such a vehicle, be cautious. Officers also outlined some basic safety principles for sellers and buyers:

1. Get a name before you agree to meet someone. You can do a little homework of your own to verify who they are by Twitter, Facebook, and other online media.
2. Ask questions. If something does not seem right, trust your instincts.
3. Meet somewhere safe that is of a mutual choice. If they are unwilling to compromise on a safe location, do not meet them. A great idea would be to ask them to meet in a police station parking lot.
4. Bring someone along for safety reasons. They can write down license plates or photograph the meeting.
5. Demand a driver license or verified identification be held as collateral before a test drive can be completed. If they do not produce one, do not let them have control of your ATV.
6. Deal only in cash that is counted and verified as being authentic before turning over keys.
7. Make sure to document pertinent details of all correspondence, such as writing down an email address or telephone number.

Photo from James Cotungo