An Adelaide man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a three-wheeled scooter after giving the owner an envelope containing fake money and “bits of paper”.
Key points:
- A person advertised a scooter for sale on Facebook Marketplace
- A man allegedly gave the owner an envelope containing fake money during the sale
- The scooter was later found dumped and a 29-year-old man was arrested
Police say the Klemzig owner had advertised the black Yamaha moped on Facebook Marketplace.
A man arrived to buy it about 9:30pm yesterday and allegedly gave the owner an envelope which he said contained cash for it.
Before the owner could check the envelope, the alleged thief drove off with the 125cc scooter.
Senior Constable Mick Abbott said the envelope contained “a fake $50 note and lots of bits of paper”.
“It was a bit of a ruse, I suppose,” he said.
“Before they could open the envelope, they’ve taken off.
“They’ve obviously handed over the keys and taken off in the scooter.”
About 1:30am, police spotted a man riding the scooter in Pooraka but they say he dumped it at a shopping centre on Kings Road, Parafield.
Police chased the suspect and arrested a 29-year-old Ridgehaven man, who was later charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified.
The scooter has been returned to its owner.
