Woman says online jewelry sale turned into attempted robbery; suspect arrested
By Mary Saladna
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NATICK, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A Massachusetts woman trying to sell her expensive gemstone in an online marketplace deal said she was almost robbed by the prospective buyer.
Kathleen Sanfacon, a registered nurse, Dunstable firefighter, and mother of two, met up with an online buyer at the Natick Mall on Tuesday.
The buyer said he was willing to pay $27,000 for the heart-shaped diamond she was selling.
The two met near the Bank of America inside the mall.
“I wanted to make sure we’d be safe and on camera and in public,” Sanfacon said.
She also went a step further and introduced herself to two bank employees, explaining that she was there to sell a diamond.
When the buyer showed up, the two went into the bank ATM vestibule.
“I took out the diamond, he had a tester, he looked like he was testing it,” said Sanfacon. “He started to put it back in the little case and I thought he was then going to get out the money, and he just ran.”
That’s when Sanfacon grabbed onto the man and didn’t let go.
“He said, ‘I have a gun and I’ll shoot you. I don’t want to have to use it,'” Sanfacon said.
She said she never saw a gun but she was dragged by the suspect.
Sanfacon suffered a dislocated pinky and scrapes to her knees and elbows.
She is grateful to the two bank employees who kept an eye on the “meet up” and came running to help her.
The employees helped tackle the suspect and called police.
Keyjuan Webb, 23, of Beverly, was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday.
Webb pleaded not guilty and was held without bail. He is due back in court on Friday for a dangerousness hearing.
“It took at least four of us to hold him down and I was able to pry [the diamond] out of his hands,” said Sanfacon.
Her diamond is currently being held as evidence.
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