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Suffolk Police have charged a 17-year-old in connection with a robbery that happened last Monday.

The teen male was arrested Dec. 31 in connection with the incident that happened on Dec. 27, according to a city press release. He is charged with robbery using firearm or displaying firearm, possession of assault or handgun by juvenile, and use or display firearm in commission of a felony.

The robbery happened about 11 a.m. Dec. 27 in the 400 block of Bank Street, according to the press release. A victim reported to police he had made arrangements to sell a pair of tennis shoes to a buyer through Facebook Messenger. The suspect displayed a firearm and took the shoes before fleeing the scene on foot.

Suffolk Police would like to note a few safety tips when setting up a meet location for the sale or purchase of merchandise:

• Never meet someone alone; take a friend with you.
• If the buyer or seller is reluctant to give you their name, phone number or wants to meet in a secluded area, do not go to the meeting.
• If at all possible, always meet at a safe meeting location such as a Police Precinct.
• Try to meet in a well-lit and very public place.
• If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Suffolk Police have designated two safe meeting zone locations. One of the safe meeting zone locations is Suffolk Police Headquarters, 111 Henley Place. The Suffolk Police Headquarters lobby is open 24 hours a day and is equipped with video surveillance cameras. The other safe meeting place location is at the Sector II Police Precinct, 3903 Bridge Road in Northern Suffolk. The Precinct II lobby is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is also equipped with video surveillance cameras. If you must meet after hours, the Sector II Police Precinct parking lot is well-lit and has video surveillance cameras.

The goal of safe meeting location zones is to reduce the risk of being targeted and possibly becoming a victim, to reduce risky transactions, and to give the public a safer environment to meet and conduct legal transactions.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact Suffolk Police or Suffolk Crime Line. To submit online, go to www.p3tips.com, visit the Suffolk Police Department website (www.suffolkva.us/spd) and look for the Suffolk Crime Line link, or go to the Suffolk Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/suffolkpolicedepartment. You can also call 888-LOCK-U-UP, 1-888-562-5887, Option 5. Once a person submits a tip, they will be given a TIP ID and password. With this information they can login at p3tips.com and submit follow-up information, engage in two-way dialogue, be informed of the outcome of the tip, and access any pertinent reward information.