Five men arrested after Facebook Marketplace robberies in Laval, police say

Laval police announced on Tuesday that they have arrested five men in connection with multiple robberies committed during Marketplace transactions.

The robberies took place in the city’s Vimont and Auteuil districts. Police say the alleged suspects contacted the victims concerning the sale of an electronic item the latter had posted on Facebook’s online Marketplace site.

When the seller showed up at a public place to conduct the transaction, police say the “buyers” would — either with a jet of pepper spray or brandishing a knife — steal the merchandise and flee the scene.

On Dec. 10, police arrested five suspects aged 19 to 22 in connection with at least three of the robberies. They were questioned then released subject to conditions and pending their appearance in court.

Search warrants were also executed to seek evidence in connection with the three robberies as well as other incidents that occurred during the wave of robberies, police say.