Man knifed by Gumtree car advert robbers
A man was stabbed in an attempted robbery after replying to a bogus advertisement for a car on the listings website Gumtree.
In the second serious stabbing in six months associated with the site, the 39-year-old was looking to buy a BMW X5 when he was surrounded by five men in Redbridge.
During a struggle he was stabbed in the leg with a large knife but managed to hold on to a case containing thousands of pounds in cash.
Today police appealed for witnesses and urged people to take precautions when replying to online adverts.
The attack came after a man was stabbed in the heart after responding to a bogus car advert on Gumtree last August. The victim survived after open heart surgery and the two robbers fled when they were disturbed.
Scotland Yard said there was an average of 30 robberies associated with online listings every year.
The latest attack took place last Thursday at 6.20pm. The victim, accompanied by two relatives, had arranged to complete the sale in a car park at Wanstead leisure centre.
After parking nearby, his two relatives were lured away from him apparently to meet the sellers of the vehicle.
The victim was left alone with the cash in Redbridge Lane West when he was surrounded by the men, described as black and aged between 20 and 25.
The victim was punched and kicked to the ground and stabbed in the right leg, below the knee. Two of the robbers fled on foot along Rectory Crescent. One drove off in a black Peugeot.
The victim is still seriously ill in hospital. Detective Sergeant Ian Hassall, of Redbridge CID, said: "This was a brutal attack on an innocent man who was responding to an online advertisement in good faith.
"We are appealing for anyone who witnessed this attack or who knows anything about it to come forward. I urge anyone responding to classified website ads, to do so safely."
A spokesman for Gumtree.com said: "This is shocking news and our thoughts are with the innocent person who was injured.
"We are working with the police to find whoever is responsible. The safety of people using Gumtree is extremely important to us and it is terrible to think that someone could be harmed in this way when going to buy a car.
"We strongly recommend that people meet in daylight, in a public place and that you take a friend along."
Anyone with information is asked to call Redbridge CID on 020 8345 2667 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
