PATERSON, N.J. — A 35-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly robbing a woman of a $2,650 Louis Vuitton handbag during a Facebook Marketplace meetup and then striking her with his vehicle as he fled the scene, authorities said.
According to Dailyvoice the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred along Buffalo Avenue in Paterson after the victim arranged to sell the designer bag to a prospective buyer she met online.
Investigators say the woman met the suspect in person to complete the sale. During the encounter, the man allegedly grabbed the handbag and rushed back to his vehicle without paying.
When the victim attempted to stop him, authorities say the suspect accelerated, striking her with the car as he drove away.
The victim reportedly suffered minor injuries, including damage to a fingernail during the confrontation.
Surveillance footage from the area and digital evidence from the online marketplace exchange helped investigators identify the suspect.
Officials said the man had previously sent the victim a selfie prior to the meeting, which was later compared to motor vehicle records.
On March 2, authorities arrested Ramon Smith Paniagua Valdez, 35, after he appeared at the Sheriff’s Office inquiring about a vehicle that had been seized as part of the investigation.
Valdez has been charged with second-degree robbery, aggravated assault, theft, and receiving stolen property. The Louis Vuitton bag has not been recovered, officials said.
Authorities are reminding residents to take precautions when arranging online marketplace transactions, including meeting in designated safe exchange zones or at local police departments whenever possible.
The investigation remains ongoing.