Emerging crime tactics !

A recent shooting on a Sydney street is a warning that criminals have developed a new tactic to combine social media, anonymous mobile phones and the lure of a supposed bargain to set a crime scene that is heavily to their advantage.

They set the scene by advertising a Smartphone for sale on social media with the contact point being a mobile phone number.   The asking price was very attractive and the criminals suggested that the exchange take place at night in a very public place - the site of a McDonald's restaurant at a time selected.

When that time arrived with no seller present the buyer received a further phone call - with an excuse for the delay.  Possibly a claim that a car malfunction had stranded the seller several blocks away and the request that the buyer come to that site.  Certainly, not an unreasonable request.

There would be no reason for the buyer to become uneasy.  This new site would be a very normal street of very normal houses, but on arrival the situation quickly changed.  A Smartphone is a costly item and this sort of deal is usually conducted on a cash basis.  The buyer will therefore have an amount of cash on his or her person - and be highly vulnerable to an armed robbery.

In this case the robbery turned deadly.   Shots were fired and the buyer was hit several times and a householder - alarmed by the commotion - opened his door and was promptly shot in the chest. The gunmen left the scene, police and ambulances were called - and this is now an ongoing crime investigation with one man arrested and several others sought.

This has given a clear warning to the public that new crime tactics now apply.  Social media and the Internet provide a huge anonymous market place for goods that formerly traded in the classified columns of newspapers.   Deals between strangers usually involve a cash transfer and the fact that communication between buyer and seller is mostly  by mobile phone leaves no evidence trail to be followed.  A cheap - anonymous mobile bought for cash is usually dumped immediately after a successful heist.

Buyers have a new need to be very suspicious of offers that involve much sought after items such as Smartphones, tablets and high end photographic equipment, all of which are small - and portable.  It would be a very good idea for the buyer to select the meeting place - and if this is refused by the seller - to cancel the deal, and allow no last minute change of venue - no matter what supposed reason is given.

The criminal fraternity are very good at using social change to their advantage. The public need to be equally adept at creating the necessary safeguards !