PITTSBURGH (TNS) — A Pennsylvania man is facing multiple charges for armed robberies that occurred in July, according to reports.
Alan Green of Pittsburgh used Facebook Marketplace to target people trying to buy a car using cash. According to court documents, Green would organize a place for them to meet and when the victims showed up with the cash he would rob them at gunpoint, WPXI reported.
Dr. John Cencich, a criminologist and professor at PennWest California, said social media has made it easier for these types of crimes to happen.
“This is happening all around the country,” Cencich told WPXI. “It’s a new medium for armed robbery.”
Green robbed eight people between July 20-28 in the Homewood area, near where he resides.
“It’s more common that the offender or the actor commits these armed robberies in a general vicinity,” Cencich continued. “They follow the same M.O. that can change depending on a number of factors.”
Three of the victims were robbed out of $3,000 at gunpoint, while another victim was robbed out of $4,500. and another for $3,500.
“I think that’s a level of comfort and a level of inexperience as well,” Cencich added. “The crime occurs there. It’s not that hard for police to find the offender. It’s a big lead that it was this particular house.”
