South Side Craigslist Robbers Nabbed

Photo by Ciaran McGuiggan

Twelve victims claim they were robbed of money and/or personal items when trying to meet up with the men who claimed to be selling cheap electronics over Craigslist.

After noting the number of attacks, police searched Craiglist for posts similar to the ones answered by the robbed, would-be customers and "posed as buyers," according to the Tribune. The posts advertised warehouse priced electronics, such as $100 Xboxes and $500 plasma screen televisions, and asked for "serious buyers" only. Potential buyers were urged to call instead of email them. Police say the posts' language lead them to the alleged robbers, the Tribune reports.

Dwayne Williams, 20, allegedly learned the scheme of offering electronic goods on the classifieds website only to rob buyers at a prearranged spot from associates and brothers, Jalmar M. Smalling, 19, and Jamelle M. Smalling, 18, the Tribune reports. Williams is charged with 12 counts of armed robbery on eight separate occasions. The Smallings are charged with five counts of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery, "for trying to rob an undercover arresting officer," the Sun-Times reports. [Sun-Times], [Tribune]