A 40-year-old Fenton man reportedly stole a dirt bike from an Arnold man who was trying to sell it. The seller had allowed the suspect, a potential buyer, to take the 2005 Yamaha WR450F for a test drive and never returned with it, Arnold Police reported.
The suspect had contacted the victim through Facebook Messenger, and the two agreed to meet at about 6 p.m. June 11 at the seller’s home on Debra Lane in Arnold. The suspect arrived riding a motorized pedal bike, the report said.
The seller agreed to let the buyer take the dirt bike for a test ride, and when the suspect hadn't returned with the Yamaha by about 6:45 p.m., the victim contacted the police, according to the report.
The Yamaha is primarily blue with some white accents, and it has blue hand guards. It is worth $2,550, the report said.
As of June 14, the dirt bike had not been recovered, and the Fenton man, who was identified through his Facebook ID, had not been located, Detective Lt. Jeremy Christopher said. He asks anyone with information about the stolen dirt bike to call Arnold Police at Arnold Police at 636-296-3204.
Christopher said when someone is selling items through social media, it is a good idea to meet potential buyers at the Arnold Police Station, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., or a public parking lot. He said sellers should typically try to accompany a potential buyer during a test drive.
“It is a little different with a car because you can go with them if they want to drive it,” Christopher said. “I think the best bet to be completely safe is to meet at a police station or a public lot. I would say that is the safest practice.”