Craigslist Safety After Colorado Tragedy
What You Should Be Doing To Avoid Harm
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A Craigslist deal gone tragically wrong. Authorities say a stranger stabbed a pregnant woman and cut her baby from her womb after the victim answered a craigslist ad in Colorado. KVRR talked to police to find out how Craigslist users can prevent something like this from happening to them.
Jameson Stanhope is currently using Craigslist to look for an apartment.
“I mostly just call and go right in,” Stanhope says.
He’s used the classified ad site several times in the past and says safety hasn’t been a thought.
“Every time I look on Craigslist it’s kind of in the back of my mind I suppose. But I guess I’m a pretty trustworthy person,” says Stanhope.
The horrifying crime scene in Colorado might have some thinking it won’t happen here, but it has. Last May, a man cut another man with a knife after he answered an ad for sex. Police say the suspect, Obsa Ali Omer, had a history of posting ads with the intention of robbing people.
But authorities say there are several things you can do to avoid becoming a Craigslist victim.
“Bring someone with you. Don’t do it alone if you can avoid that. But if you can’t find someone to come with you let someone know where you’re at so that way, you know, just in case say ‘hey if I don’t contact you in a few minutes or if by this time why don’t you try calling me or why don’t you let the authorities know,'” says Crime Prevention Officer Jessica Schindeldecker of Fargo Police.
Police say buyers and sellers can even go as far as meeting at a police station.
“You can come down to the police department we’re always open 24/7. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. so if you’re going to meet here I mean there’s police officers around and that’s certainly available,” Schindeldecker continues.
The Colorado victim is in the hospital and is expected to survive. The woman who stabbed the victim is facing several charges, including attempted murder and assault.
