SAN DIEGO -- Some Craigslist users have become more wary of the popular buying and selling site after a teenager was murdered following a transaction from the website.
On Wednesday, San Diego Police said 18-year-old Garrett Berki was shot and killed after three teenagers robbed him and his girlfriend of their cash and cell phones.
Homicide detectives said Berki had met the suspects in Paradise Hills to buy a $600 Mac laptop. When Berki tried following the teenagers after they robbed him, one of the boys shot Berki in the chest. He died at the hospital, officers said.
"It's really sad," said John Spelic, an avid Craigslist user. "Statistically, this doesn't happen very often, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen to you or anyone else, so it's definitely something to be mindful of."
Spelic's wife, Crystal said she never goes to someone's house alone if she is buying something off the website.
"I prefer John to do most of it, but if I have to, I schedule it during the day and always tell someone where I am going," said Crystal Spelic.
Authorities told FOX-5 there is no sure-way to prevent something bad happening, but a few common sense tips can keep buyers and sellers safer, like going during the day, taking a friend and meeting in a common location, like a coffee shop.
"I think Craigslist can be valuable if people use it correctly," said Alex Nguyen. "There are some precautions people should take because it's a user friendly site, there is no regulation."
Craigslist does have warnings regarding scams on its site and a section for personal safety.
This message is on the site, "The overwhelming majority of Craigslist users are trustworthy and well-intentioned. With billions of human interactions facilitated through Craigslist, the incidence of violent crime has been extremely low. Nevertheless, it's very important to take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline."
Rashon Abernathy, Seandell Jones, and Shaquille Jordan are all held on $5 million bail and face 50 years to life in prison if convicted in the death of Berki.
Berki was a freshman at Mesa College. He graduated from La Jolla High School last year.
On Wednesday, San Diego Police said 18-year-old Garrett Berki was shot and killed after three teenagers robbed him and his girlfriend of their cash and cell phones.
Homicide detectives said Berki had met the suspects in Paradise Hills to buy a $600 Mac laptop. When Berki tried following the teenagers after they robbed him, one of the boys shot Berki in the chest. He died at the hospital, officers said.
"It's really sad," said John Spelic, an avid Craigslist user. "Statistically, this doesn't happen very often, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen to you or anyone else, so it's definitely something to be mindful of."
Spelic's wife, Crystal said she never goes to someone's house alone if she is buying something off the website.
"I prefer John to do most of it, but if I have to, I schedule it during the day and always tell someone where I am going," said Crystal Spelic.
Authorities told FOX-5 there is no sure-way to prevent something bad happening, but a few common sense tips can keep buyers and sellers safer, like going during the day, taking a friend and meeting in a common location, like a coffee shop.
"I think Craigslist can be valuable if people use it correctly," said Alex Nguyen. "There are some precautions people should take because it's a user friendly site, there is no regulation."
Craigslist does have warnings regarding scams on its site and a section for personal safety.
This message is on the site, "The overwhelming majority of Craigslist users are trustworthy and well-intentioned. With billions of human interactions facilitated through Craigslist, the incidence of violent crime has been extremely low. Nevertheless, it's very important to take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline."
Rashon Abernathy, Seandell Jones, and Shaquille Jordan are all held on $5 million bail and face 50 years to life in prison if convicted in the death of Berki.
Berki was a freshman at Mesa College. He graduated from La Jolla High School last year.
