Waukesha police encourage use of "Safe Exchange Zone" after Craigslist seller robbed at gunpoint

WAUKESHA -- Waukesha police say a man selling an iPhone on Craigslist was robbed by the buyer on Tuesday, May 10th -- and that has police reminding folks that there is a "Safe Exchange Zone" set up for these types of transactions at the Waukesha Police Department.

The armed robbery happened around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Police say a 911 call came in from the victim, who indicated he was robbed at gunpoint on Haymarket Road near School Drive after driving to the area to meet a buyer for his iPhone he had posted for sale on Craigslist.

When the victim arrived at the location, police say the suspect grabbed the phone away and pointed a handgun at the victim and then fled on foot.

Officers responded to the scene along with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department's K-9 unit and searched for the suspect.

Based on the information given by the victim, officers responded to a residence nearby and located the juvenile suspect inside.

The juvenile was arrested and confessed to the robbery and is believed to be responsible for additional thefts and robberies in the neighborhood linked to Craigslist ads, police said.

Police are encouraging people to use the "Safe Exchange Zone" at the Waukesha Police Departments and other departments in southeastern Wisconsin to prevent this type of crime from occurring.

These "Safe Exchange Zones" are under 24-hour video surveillance.