A recent transaction arranged through Facebook Marketplace took a troubling turn when a local seller discovered he was the target of a scam. The incident unfolded when a resident from Lawrence County decided to sell his Razor ATV to an individual from Mississippi. The two parties communicated via Messenger and agreed to meet at the CenterPoint United Methodist Church for the exchange.
Upon arrival, the seller’s suspicions were piqued when he examined the buyer’s driver’s license, which appeared to have been tampered with. Accompanied by two companions, the buyer requested to take the ATV for a test ride before finalizing the purchase. He presented a cashier’s check as payment, which further raised the seller’s concerns. Feeling uneasy about the situation, the seller reached out to his neighbor, who works as an investigator, for assistance, suspecting that the group might be attempting to steal his vehicle.
As the situation escalated, the buyer quickly loaded the ATV onto a trailer and attempted to leave the scene in a truck. However, after the seller contacted the driver, they returned to the original meeting spot. At this point, two of the passengers exited the vehicle while one remained inside, ready to depart once again. The two individuals who exited were detained by the seller until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
In response to the theft, a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) alert was issued for the stolen Razor ATV, which was later found in Loretto. The vehicle was discovered without its key and with an additional ATV tire. Authorities subsequently issued warrants for both detained individuals on charges of Theft over $1,000, and they were taken to the Lawrence County Jail. Meanwhile, a BOLO was also issued for the third suspect, who had fled the scene, with charges including Theft over $1,000, Forgery, and Worthless Checks.
Law enforcement located the suspect’s vehicle near Luncford Road, where it was confirmed by the victim to have a fake license plate affixed over the original. The vehicle, along with the stolen tire, was towed to an impound service, and all evidence collected, including a phone and the fraudulent license plate, was logged for further investigation. As of now, the search for the third suspect continues, and the investigation remains open.