Robbery Instead of Phone Purchase - Police Seek Witnesses - Gunpoint Robbery During Online Classifieds Meetup Leaves Victim Injured in Hesse
A 45-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint while trying to buy a smartphone through an online classifieds platform in northern Hesse. The attack involved two armed assailants who threatened the victim before fleeing with his cash.
The incident began when the victim arranged to meet the sellers through an online ad. Upon arrival, two men confronted him with a pistol and demanded his money. They also sprayed him with irritant gas, leaving him with minor injuries.
Emergency services treated the man at the scene, but the suspects escaped despite an immediate police search. Multiple patrol cars were deployed in the manhunt, yet both attackers remain unidentified. Authorities have now turned to the public for help. While no direct data links similar robberies to classified ad platforms in 2023, recent cases in Hamburg and Strausberg show criminals using dating apps to target victims in 2024 and 2025.
The victim's injuries were not serious, but the suspects are still at large. Police continue to investigate and have urged anyone with information to come forward. The case highlights the risks of meeting strangers through online platforms.
