CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Police in Miami-Dade County arrested a man they said tried to steal a car during a test drive.
According to Coral Gables police, 65-year-old Pablo Rodriguez contacted the victim on Facebook Marketplace regarding a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 that was listed for sale.
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Rodriguez and the victim met on April 24 in Coral Gables for a test drive, police said, and during the drive Rodriguez told the victim he intended to purchase the car as a gift for his daughter.
That’s when, according to police, Rodriguez pulled into a hotel on the 2200 block of LeJune Road that he said was his daughter’s place of work and asked the victim to go inside and ask for Rodriguez’s daughter to surprise her.
When the victim exited the vehicle, police said Rodriguez took off with the car.
According to authorities, this is not the first time Rodriguez has pulled this scam. He also did it in March of 2021.
Police warn the public to take safety measures in these situations, such as meeting in a public place, advising a friend or loved one where you are going when meeting with a stranger, meeting during the day, not paying with cash and keeping your cell phone and personal belongings close.