Craigslist Exchange Gone Wrong: Man with Knife Robs 17-year-old in Local Parking Lot

A man armed with a knife robbed a 17-year-old boy last week of his cell phone during a Craigslist exchange gone wrong in .

The victim had created a post on Craigslist early last week advertising his iPhone for $550. He got a text on Wednesday from someone who wanted to buy the phone for $500, so he agreed to meet that stranger on Thursday, according to the police report.

The two rendezvoused near a store in the 9500 block of 179th Street in Tinley Park for the exchange. Police said the victim called the buyer when he pulled into the parking lot.

"(The victim) said they were standing in front of the cleaners when he showed the offender his phone," the report said. "The offender turned his body away … and turned back around showing ... the money."

The boy said he saw a "6-inch long metal point"—a knife or possibly a mail opener—sticking out of the stash of cash. He reached for the payment and the suspect snatched the phone and ran eastbound from the strip mall, according to the report.

The victim and several witnesses described the suspect as a black man who was about 5 feet 5 inches tall. He wore a black baseball cap, white T-shirt, black mesh shorts that had a red stripe down the side and black gym shoes.

Video surveillance from area businesses caught the exchange on camera. The case remained under investigation Monday by the .