Craigslist seller falls victim to pepper-spray assault and car theft

When the victim handed over the car keys, he was pepper-sprayed. (CTV)

Richmond RCMP are looking for a suspect who assaulted a man with pepper spray then stole his car during a meeting for a Craigslist sale on Thursday night.

The 39-year-old victim, who works as a car dealer, placed an ad to sell a 2009 Mazda Tribute SUV on Craigslist. He arranged to meet a potential buyer in the 7000-block of Turnill Street just before 10 p.m. When the victim handed over the car keys, he was pepper-sprayed. The suspect drove off in the SUV and was last seen travelling northbound on Turnill Street.

The victim was unable to call 911 after being pepper-sprayed but found someone who was able to call for help. RCMP treated the man and he is expected to recover.

The suspect is Caucasian, 5-8 tall, in his 20s with brown curly hair. He was wearing a dark jacket with the word “Security” on the back, a dark hoodie, and a reflective safety vest. The vehicle is a white 2009 Mazda Tribute GT SUV with black wheels, dark grey leather interior with headrests missing from the rear seats. The car may have a B.C. dealer licence plate starting with D649.

“The Richmond RCMP is actively investigating this case. We would ask that if anyone has any information on this matter to contact us. Likewise, if you spot the suspect or this vehicle, call 911 immediately,” said Cpl. Dennis Hwang in a release.

The RCMP offered tips for people who use online services like Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook for buying and selling goods.

- Choose a neutral site for meetings, preferably a public place or an area with security cameras.

- Be cautious when carrying large amounts of money to meeting places.

- Bring a friend to oversee the transaction.

- When buying electronics such as mobile phones, check that the IMEI number has not been blacklisted by checking Device Check.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212, email [e-mail] or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.