In a case that’s unsettled folks from Marin City to Mill Valley, police arrested two teenagers after what they say was an armed robbery linked to an online clothing sale. The incident happened in mid-November on Drake Avenue in Marin City, highlighting the real risks of meeting up with strangers from social media—something police from San Rafael to Novato say is becoming more common.
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Armed Robbery in Marin City Tied to Social Media Sale
The robbery took place around 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 in the 600 block of Drake Avenue. That’s a residential stretch of Marin City, busy with commuters from Sausalito and Tiburon every day.
Three people—two adults and one juvenile—had set up a clothing sale with buyers they’d found through a social media marketplace. Instead of a normal exchange, the sellers met two male suspects who, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, pulled a gun on them.
What should’ve been a straightforward meetup, like so many arranged across Marin from Fairfax to Corte Madera, suddenly turned into a crime scene. During the robbery, investigators say one suspect fired a shot into the air.
Shot Fired to Intimidate Victims
The shot wasn’t aimed at anyone, but it seemed meant to scare and stop the victims from fighting back or trying to get the clothes back. In a place where gunfire is almost unheard of—whether it’s Greenbrae or the family streets of San Anselmo—the fact that someone fired a gun has rattled people.
Residents in nearby Strawberry and Tam Valley have said they’re uneasy about the boldness of an armed robbery tied to something as simple as selling clothes online. It’s a reminder that even a routine transaction in Marin towns, from Kentfield to Larkspur, can turn dangerous fast.
Teens Arrested After Search Warrants in Marin City and San Rafael
After the November robbery, detectives with the Sheriff’s Office started digging deeper, following leads that took them from Marin City into San Rafael. They eventually identified both suspects as minors, which fits a worrying trend of juveniles getting caught up in serious crimes across the Bay Area—now more often in Marin County, too.
On Dec. 17, about a month after the robbery, deputies carried out search warrants in Marin City and San Rafael. These coordinated searches drew on resources that often help with investigations all over the county, from Novato to the neighborhoods near Lucas Valley and Terra Linda.
Clothing and Firearm Recovered
Deputies found clothing they believe was stolen during the robbery, along with a firearm. Investigators are still trying to figure out if that gun is the same one fired on Drake Avenue.
The two teenage suspects ended up in Marin County Juvenile Hall in San Rafael, where cases from places like Ross and Belvedere usually go. Since the suspects are minors, authorities haven’t released their names, sticking to California’s juvenile privacy laws.
Growing Trend: Robberies Linked to Social Media Meetups
Police are warning that this isn’t just a Marin City problem. Law enforcement across Marin—from the San Rafael Police Department to Novato Police and the Central Marin Police Authority—have noticed more robberies tied to in-person deals set up online.
These crimes often involve buyers or sellers using social media marketplaces or classified apps to lure people into isolated or dark spots. What used to be more common in big cities is now popping up in suburban communities like Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Fairfax. It’s unsettling, honestly, and makes you wonder if anyone can really trust these meetups anymore.
Safety Tips for Online Marketplace Transactions in Marin
Officials want to help cut down on crimes like these. They urge everyone in Marin County—whether you’re meeting a buyer in Novato, a seller in Sausalito, or just doing a quick handoff in San Rafael—to keep a few safety tips in mind:
Even a simple clothing sale can get risky when you arrange it online. Staying alert and following some basic precautions goes a long way in keeping Marin’s in-person transactions safer.
Here is the source article for this story: 2 Teens Arrested For Armed Robbery In Marin County Social Media Sale: Police
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