A 15-year-old boy has been detained in connection with an armed robbery during a Facebook Marketplace transaction in South Bend.

According to the South Bend Police Department, officers responded on Saturday, May 31, to the 2000 block of South Bend Avenue after receiving a report of a robbery.

Investigators say two people had arranged to meet a prospective buyer in the parking lot of Martin’s Super Market to sell a laptop they had listed on Facebook Marketplace.

During the meeting, the suspect allegedly displayed what appeared to be a firearm and took the laptop without paying before leaving the scene.

Through their investigation, officers and detectives identified a 15-year-old male as the suspect. Police later located and interviewed the juvenile before taking him into custody.

The teen was transported to the Juvenile Justice Center in connection with the incident.

Police are reminding residents to use caution when conducting online sales. The department maintains a designated internet purchase exchange zone outside police headquarters on Sample Street, which is monitored by surveillance cameras around the clock.

Officials also recommend meeting in public places, avoiding transactions after dark, reviewing online seller or buyer profiles, and contacting law enforcement immediately if a crime occurs during an exchange.