A man was allegedly kidnapped by another man in Ocean Beach during a Craigslist dealing gone wrong, authorities confirmed.
According to police, the incident began around 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 5000 block of Narragansett Avenue after a man responded to a seller’s ad on Craigslist with intentions of purchasing a camera lens.
The victim met with the seller – described as a white male adult in his mid-20s – at a hotel room to supposedly purchase the item.
When the victim arrived, police say the seller allegedly threatened him with a handgun. The suspect then forced the victim to drive him to the victim’s bank in La Jolla in an attempt to steal his money.
Once they arrived at the bank, the suspect decided the bank was taking too long to get the money, so he ordered the victim to drive away. Police say the suspect didn’t obtain any money from the victim.
The victim was not injured.
According to police, the suspect remains outstanding and could face attempted robbery and kidnapping charges. He’s described as having a thin build. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt during the botched Craigslist transaction.
The investigation is ongoing.
Just last month, a local couple was shot during a meeting with a would-be buyer who had responded to their Craigslist ad.
In that case, the couple met the buyer in a parking lot. The buyer allegedly hopped into the couple's car and pulled a gun on them. Both victims were shot, but survived their wounds.
More than a year ago, a similar crime occurred in Paradise Hills. However, that incident turned deadly.
Suspects Rashon Abernathy, 18, Seandell Jones, 19, and Shaquille Jordan, 18, were convicted this past November in the May 2011 death of Pacific Beach resident Garrett Berki, 18.
The three teens lured Berki with a Craigslist ad offering a laptop computer and then robbed him of $600 and drove away. Berki chased after the suspects and was shot to death behind the wheel of his car.
A jury convicted the teens of first degree murder, robbery and shooting.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego