The Tyler Police Department began receiving a series of thefts on Wednesday being reported by individuals who had responded to a Craigslist advertisement http://easttexas.craigslist.org/sys/3206688685.html to purchase an iPad.

The victims had all met the seller in apartment complex parking lots.  The victims were presented with book bags containing paper notebooks.  The bags were tied shut, delaying the victims ability to inspect the contents.  Once the seller was presented with the money, he would flee the area, leaving the victim with the backpack.  Three incidents were reported Wednesday and one Thursday.

Upon realizing the pattern of the crimes, undercover investigators responded to the advertisement and set up a meeting to buy the iPad. Working with uniformed officers, a sting operation was conducted and two suspects were arrested for the thefts.

Arrested were Anthony Joseph Falbo, 25, of Tyler and Kimberly Ann Bowman, 25, of Tyler.  Falbo was charged with evading arrest and class A theft.  Bowman was charged with class A theft.

The Tyler Police Department would like to remind citizens to exercise extreme caution when conducting financial transactions with anyone they meet over the Internet.

More From 101.5 KNUE