Ottawa police are investigating two armed Facebook Marketplace robberies in Barrhaven and Manotick after separate meetups turned violent.
Ottawa police are warning online shoppers and sellers to stay alert after two armed robberies linked to Facebook Marketplace deals happened within about 15 hours.
The incidents happened in Barrhaven on Sunday night and Manotick on Monday morning. Police are now asking the public for help as they work to determine whether the cases are connected.
Barrhaven robbery involved a handgun
The first robbery happened Sunday evening near Berrigan and Beatrice drives in Barrhaven.
Police say a person met a suspect after arranging a sale through Facebook Marketplace. During the meeting, the suspect pulled out a handgun and took an item from the victim.
Investigators are asking anyone with video from the area between 7:30 and 8 p.m. to contact the Ottawa Police Service robbery unit.
Manotick meeting ended with gunfire
About 15 hours later, a similar incident unfolded in Manotick, roughly seven kilometres away.
Police say a seller had arranged to meet a potential buyer through Facebook Marketplace. However, the meeting quickly turned dangerous when the male suspect allegedly pulled out a firearm and tried to rob the seller.
Two shots were fired. Thankfully, no one was hit.
Three people then helped take the suspect into custody, police said. They included the seller, a security guard and an off-duty police officer.
The suspect, who police have identified as a young offender, suffered minor injuries.
Police are checking for a possible link
Ottawa police said Wednesday that both cases remain under investigation.
At this point, however, police have not said whether the two robberies are connected.
The incidents have also raised fresh concerns about safety during online sales. For that reason, police are reminding people to take extra care when meeting strangers through online marketplaces.
Police urge buyers and sellers to meet safely
Ottawa police recommend using safe trade zones when completing online sales. These areas have video monitoring and are located outside several police stations across the city.
Police also advise buyers and sellers to keep details about the person they are meeting.
That information could help investigators if a deal goes wrong. In addition, police say suspects may block victims after a robbery, which can make it harder to identify or contact them later.
For now, investigators are asking anyone with relevant video or information about either incident to come forward.
