Winnipeg police set up a sting operation to catch a suspect accused of robbing several people of cash and electronics earlier this month.
Police say on four separate occasions, the man met up with potential buyers interested in a cell phone for sale that was posted online. The victims all met the suspect outside a business on McGee Street, where they were robbed at knifepoint.
In one instance on September 3, a nine-year-old boy accompanied a 50-year-old man to the transaction. They were both confronted by the suspect, who grabbed the boy and held a knife to his neck. The victim gave the man $100 cash and the suspect fled. The child wasn’t injured.
Three more incidents on September 4, 6 and 12 all ended with potential buyers leaving without their cash — and in some cases — their own cell phones.
Police set up a sting on September 15 and responded to an ad posted by the suspect. The seller approached an unmarked police vehicle armed with a knife and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
Ibraham Baidobola Bangura, 25, has been charged with four counts of robbery, possession of a weapon and failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance order. He remains in custody.
Winnipeg police recently established zones to conduct safe buy and sell transactions in the city, located at each of the four main police stations.
