A 74-year-old woman was pepper sprayed this week when she met someone to complete an online sale in a popular public park.
According to North Vancouver RCMP, the incident happened around 1 p.m. on Tuesday following an arrangement to sell an item via Facebook Marketplace. The woman met the assumed buyer in Victoria Park, where that person tried to rob her of the item she had arranged for sale, said Sgt. Peter DeVries.
During the interaction, the woman was pepper sprayed, DeVries said. Officers attended the scene, and the woman made a statement. DeVries added that she recovered, and suffered no serious physical injuries.
As the investigation is still in its early stages, police aren’t releasing any further details about the incident or the suspect. But RCMP are pursuing active leads, DeVries said.
If anyone is making an in-person transaction via Facebook Marketplace or other online services, North Vancouver RCMP encourage them to make their exchanges at a safe zone outside the detachment.
“We welcome people to do their exchanges there,” DeVries said. “It’s a much safer place.”
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