Police: Man Posing As Buyer On Popular App Attacks Sellers With Mace, Robs Them

WHEATLEY HEIGHTS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police said a man posing as a buyer on a popular mobile app came armed with mace and tried to force a victim to let go of their valuable items on Long Island.

Donald Skene Jr. thought he was safe going with his father to sell his pricey Breitling watch to someone he met on the popular "letgo" app, CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported.

"We shook hands, started talking about the watch. He knew things about the watch, so it seemed legit," Skene said.

But moments into the transaction at a strip mall, the "buyer" sprayed him with mace and tried to yank away the $12,000 watch.

"I still had it in my hands, so I just held on to it. It's crazy... I didn't like the idea of going there. I figured I'd bring my own car in case something happened so I could intervene and thank God I did," Donald Skene Sr., the victim's father, told CBS2.

The next day police said 30-year-old Tyriek Coleman of Wyandanch was back on the mobile app posing as a buyer again. They set up a sting and arrested and charged him with stealing expensive watches and jewels three times while using mace to disable victims.

"It causes a lot of pain and it takes a while to get over that and it's hard to defend yourself," Suffolk Police Chief of Detectives William Scrima said.

Police are now warning residents to be alert when making transactions.

"They should have people meet them at a place well lit, well populated, never bring them to your home," Scrima said.

You can also meet at a safe transaction site set up by law enforcement.

"If you ask someone to meet you at the sheriff's department to do a transaction with them and they don't want to come, you probably don't want to be doing business with them anyway," Chief Michael Sharkey said.

A spokesman for letgo advises proper precautions.

"The vast majority of letgo's users are trustworthy and online classifieds have been used securely in the U.S. and around the globe for decades," the company said.

The Skenes said they knew something was wrong when the Coleman wouldn't meet them at the location they chose, then arrived on foot.

Coleman was on parole for an armed robbery. He entered a not guilty plea and was represented by legal aid.