Shirley Urges Safety On Craigslist, Similar Websites

In light of this week’s car theft in Stephens County where someone stole a car after posing as an interested buyer on Craigslist, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley is issuing a warning about the website.

Shirley said that there have been many reports of crimes that started with people communicating on Craigslist about the purchase of items.

“You just do not know who you are talking to on the Internet and on certain websites,” said Shirley. “Craigslist has been one of the worst websites where assaults, thefts, and homicides have occurred than any other venue out there.”

Shirley said that people who are going to use Craigslist or similar websites and meet with people they do not know about buying or selling items should make sure to be safe.

He said the safest thing to do is meet the person nearby law enforcement.

“If they want to continue to shop on Craigslist, my advice to them as sheriff would be either go to the Stephens County Jail, because it is open 24 hours a day, as a meeting place, or to the Toccoa Police Department only,” said Shirley.

Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell also said people can use the parking lot adjacent to the Toccoa Police Department on Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa.

Monday night, a South Carolina man allegedly met a local individual at Wal-Mart about the purchase of a vehicle.

The suspect then is accused of stealing the car at gunpoint and leading authorities on a chase that ended with the suspect under arrest and the car flipped on its top on Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa.