Authorities are investigating two robbery cases in which the victims posted electronics for sale online and were robbed during the transactions.
- Victims had advertised items online
- One victim hit by vehicle
- Police say robber in his 20s
The Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the incidents occurred July 4 and July 5.
In the first case, the victim and robber exchanged text messages and met at about 7:40 p.m. in the 5000 block of Bordeaux Village Place. The man claiming he wanted to buy the woman's phone looked at it inside his vehicle, then backed up the vehicle and hit the woman, knocking her to the ground, police said.
In the second incident, the victim and robber met at about 8:30 p.m. in the 17000 block of Palm Point Drive. The culprit, driving a silver Cadillac, asked to hold the iPad that was for sale. He grabbed the iPad from the victim's hands and fled in his vehicle, police said.
The value of the items stolen was about $1,750.
The robber was described as in his 20s, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and about 140-150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black shorts with a white stripe down the side, socks and slides.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).