Pair Robbed In South Bay, Dropped Off In Failed Online Sale

CHULA VISTA, CA — Two people were kidnapped and robbed in Chula Vista, then dropped off in Valley Center in an online vendor meet-up gone wrong, authorities said Wednesday.

Dispatchers received a call shortly after 11:55 p.m. Tuesday from two people reporting they had been robbed by two men, then dropped off on West Lilac Road near Stande Lane, just east of Interstate 15, said San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Michael Power.

The victims told deputies they had driven from Riverside County to Chula Vista around 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Tuesday to purchase refrigerators from a seller advertising on the online marketplace OfferUp, Power said.

The victims arrived at an unknown address on Palomar Street near Interstate 5 in Chula Vista, then two men ordered them to get out of their rented trucks and into an unknown vehicle, the sergeant said.

They were ordered to kneel in the back of the vehicle while the thieves stole money, an iPhone and identification cards from the victims, Power said. The suspects then drove the victims to West Lilac Road in Valley Center and dropped them off uninjured.

Sheriff's deputies took a courtesy report before turning the investigation over to the Chula Vista police.

No suspect descriptions were immediately available.

— City News Service