The Peoria Police Department is reminding residents that their lobby can be used as a safe spot to complete online transactions after three armed robberies on Saturday.
Peoria Police Public Information Officer Amy Dotson said a man met up with a seller in the 800 block of W. Virginia around 3:45 p.m. to buy a cellphone through the Letgo app. When he got there, the cellphone had a cracked screen. Dotson said the buyer and sellers began arguing, before the suspects struck the victim on the head with a gun and fled the area.
The two suspects, a 18-year-old and 16-year-old, were later arrested.
Around 4 p.m., a woman who arranged to sell an Apple Watch and cellphone on Facebook was pepper sprayed at the location the two agreed to meet in the 9000 block of N. Allen Road. The suspect, a woman, fled the area with the watch and phone.
Around 6:45 p.m., a 16-year-old who arranged to sell a cellphone via the Letgo app was shot in the 2800 block of W. Ann, where the buyer and seller agreed to meet. The suspect then fled the scene with the phone.
The teenage victim is in serious but stable condition.
The police department lobby, 600 SW Adams, is available as a spot to complete online transactions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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