A 17-year-old from Lakeville came to Bloomington on July 19 to buy a video game system from someone he'd connected with on Instagram. He ended up out $600 and running for his life.
The teen and an 18-year-old friend drove to the parking lot at the Bloomington Ferry Trailhead Bridge for the exchange, around 6:30 p.m. When he got out of his car to make the deal, four masked men jumped out of a white Kia holding handguns and told him to leave or they'd shoot. They took the $600 and sped off.
Bloomington police Commander Eric Kittelson said anyone meeting a stranger for an online sale should use the city's Safe Swap Spot at Civic Plaza instead of a random parking lot. The outdoor spot, in the row closest to Logan Avenue at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, is watched by security cameras and available anytime; exchanges can also happen inside the police department lobby weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. "If a seller is unwilling to meet at Bloomington Civic Plaza, buyers shouldn't meet with them," Kittelson said.
No arrests have been reported in the robbery. It's a reminder that a lot of these online sale meetups still happen in whatever lot feels convenient — and that Bloomington has a purpose-built alternative sitting right at the police department for exactly this kind of transaction.