Watch CBS News

Police Seek 4 Suspects Who Set Up Sales On Facebook, Robbed Would-Be Sellers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have launched a search for four teenage boys and/or young men who set up meetings on Facebook with younger boys, only to rob them when the meetings took place.

The incidents both happened at the Cypress Hills J Line elevated subway stop, at Jamaica and Autumn avenues in the Cypress Hills section of northeast Brooklyn.

The suspects, described as four Hispanic males between the ages of 16 and 20, were captured in surveillance pictures.

In the first incident back on Oct. 12, a 16-year-old boy set up a meeting with the suspects through Facebook chat, in order to purchase sneakers, police said. When he met up with the suspects at 8:25 p.m. at the Cypress Hills J Line stop, they forcibly removed his sneakers and ran off, police said.

The second incident happened just this past Sunday at 6:40 p.m. In the incident, a 12-year-old boy set up a meeting with the suspects on Facebook chat, with the intention of selling them his iPhone. When the boy arrived at the Cypress Hills stop, they forcibly grabbed his iPhone and ran off with it.

Police have not indicated whether the suspects knew the two boys they allegedly robbed, or how they ended up in contact through Facebook.

Anyone with information in the incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, visit the Crime Stoppers Web site, or submit tips by texting to 274637 and entering TIP577.

Leave your comments below...

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.