Craigslist heist baffles police

Police in Mount Prospect, Ill., are still trying to unravel a case where a robber sprayed pepper spray into a man’s face and stole $2,128 worth of Home Depot store merchandise credits. The alleged victim, Freddie Ng, told police he advertised the store credit cards on Craigslist and agreed to meet a man named “Mike” around 9 p.m. on Oct. 23. But instead of producing cash to buy the cards, “Mike” used a can of pepper spray to momentarily disable the victim and snatch the cards. A struggle ensued, and the robber’s black shirt was torn off before he escaped.

Detective Bob Riordan, who is investigating the incident for the Mount Prospect Police Department, told Home Channel News that he had video footage of the crime from a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts. He has subpoenaed the cell phone records of the alleged robber, and he has the can of pepper spray and the torn black shirt. The part of the case that baffles him, he said, is the $2,128 worth of store credit.

“[The victim] claimed he was doing some home repairs, and it all came from merchandise returns,” Riordan said. “But I checked with Home Depot. He’s got more credits than [returned] merchandise, so I’m not sure what he’s up to.”

Riordan said he hasn’t heard from the victim since the initial crime report, but he’s still pursuing all leads in the case, including the origin of the store credit cards.