Police said they are looking for two teenage suspects from Houston who allegedly ran scams on Facebook Marketplace and robbed victims.
Arlando Lyles, 17, is wanted for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and larceny from a person, and Christian Ray Pickett, 18, is wanted for larceny from a person. Additional charges are pending, according to the Houston Police Department (HPD).
Lyles and Pickett are at least two suspects wanted in a series of incidents stemming from Facebook Marketplacein which suspects pose as sellers with fake profiles, meet buyers in person and then rob them, HPD’s Robbery Division said in a news release.
HPD officers believe there may be more suspects involved posing as fake sellers on Facebook Marketplace. Investigators say the robberies have occurred in 15 locations with 15 different victims since at least September 21.
Facebook Marketplace is a subsection of Facebook where any user can buy or sell items from other users.
While the social media selling platform has certain protections for buyers, it is plagued by scammers who use fake profile photos and names to impersonate different people online.
HPD says the 15 thefts since September occurred in “a variety of apartment complex parking lots in southeast Houston.”
Lyles allegedly pointed a gun at the mother of a family of five traveling together to a gathering place in her vehicle while the woman’s 15-year-old son was just feet away. The father and his two other children, ages 8 and 10, ducked for cover inside the vehicle, according to ABC 13.
They intended to buy a PlayStation 5 from Lyles, with whom the 15-year-old mother had been chatting extensively on Facebook Marketplace before meeting, mostly in Spanish. However, when they arrived at the meeting location and Lyles did not speak Spanish, the 15-year-old had a feeling something was wrong, according to ABC 13.
“It’s cash, ma’am. I had a lot of bad experiences recently, but nothing related to you,” Lyles allegedly said in a message before meeting her at a parking lot he allegedly suggested.
The 15-year-old and his mother got out of their vehicle to complete the transaction when things got complicated. Lyles allegedly demanded to see the $250 in cash they had brought to purchase the PlayStation before handing it over.
“I got out of the car, then my mom got out of the car and when I was about to open it, he put his hand in his pocket, took out [un arma]then he pointed it at mom, as if to give her the money, and then he ran with the PS5 too,” the 15-year-old told ABC 13.
“Once the buyer arrives at the location, the suspects rob the victim by pointing a firearm at him and then taking his money,” HPD’s Robbery Division said in a news release.
As of Wednesday morning, their whereabouts were unknown and police continue to ask the public for help in searching for the two wanted teens.. They are asking anyone who may have seen Lyles or Pickett to contact police.
Police ask anyone with information about these robberies to contact Houston Crime Stoppers directly at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at http://www.crime-stoppers.org.
Information leading to an arrest may result in a cash payment of up to $5,000.
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