Craigslist encounter leads to robbery

Originally published: May 19, 2009, 2:13 p.m.
Updated: May 30, 2009, 12:16 a.m.

APEX, N.C. — A man has been arrested after he was accused of meeting another man through Craigslist and robbing him.

Police say Gary Rezendes and the victim met through the “casual encounters” section of Craiglist and decided to meet in person on April 4 at a Vision Rd. Home Depot parking lot. Sgt. Sean Pearson of the Apex Police Department told Q-Notes that Rezendes was carrying a knife, stole $40 from the victim and fled the scene afterward. The victim was unharmed.

“From my interview with [Rezendes], he had stated that the whole purpose of being on [Craiglist] was to commit a robbery, that there was no previous intent of meeting anyone,” Pearson said. “He was on Craigslist initially looking at things to buy and saw the ads in the personals and thought of it as a quick way to make some money by committing a robbery.”

Rezendes’ arrest was made on May 18, after police were able to track online conversations between the victim and Rezendes.

Rezendes was in the custody of Wake County officials, under a $50,000 bond. Pearson said Rezendes’ past criminal record includes only property crimes.

Craigslist has come under fire recently for its erotic services and personals sections. In the past, police across the country have investigated prostitution resulting from the online classified website’s adult sections. The site has also attracted attention as criminals use it to meet robbery victims. In Boston, police are investigating the high profile case of medical student accused of killing a woman he met through the site. It is suspected he might have attacked two others and possibly targeted men as well.