Stolen Tool Recovered Through Facebook Marketplace, Tulsa Police Say
Tulsa, Oklahoma – A quick-thinking man recovered his stolen $1,500 Ridgid NaviTrack Scout locator tool after spotting it for sale on Facebook marketplace, according to the tulsa Police department. The incident serves as a reminder to exercise caution when purchasing items online.
The victim initially reported the theft on January 8th, stating that his work truck had been broken into while parked at the Urban Oak Apartments near 51st and Lewis. Upon discovering the theft,he noticed several listings on Facebook Marketplace that appeared to be his stolen tool,offered at significantly reduced prices – sometimes as low as a quarter of its original value.
acting swiftly, the victim alerted police, who then contacted the sellers and arranged to meet them in a parking lot near 62nd and Peoria. During the arranged meeting, officers identified 29-year-old Shavonn Byllups as the seller in possession of the stolen tool.
Byllups claimed she had been approached by an acquaintance who offered her money to sell the item on Facebook Marketplace, but was unable to provide further details about the source of the stolen property. Fortunately, the victim had previously marked the tool’s case with identifying facts, allowing officers to confirm it was the stolen item.
Byllups was subsequently arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail, facing charges of knowingly concealing stolen property.
The Tulsa Police Department is using this case to caution Facebook Marketplace users to be vigilant.Authorities advise that exceptionally low prices should raise suspicion, and encourage buyers to thoroughly inspect items before completing a purchase. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is.
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