Woman has warning after meeting man on popular dating site
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston woman wants anyone using a dating website to take warning. She told abc13 a man robbed her at gunpoint after they went out on a date.
We're only identifying the woman as Jane to protect her anonymity. The incident happened at Edwards Houston Marq'e Stadium 23 on Friday afternoon.
Jane said she met the man on plentyoffish.com more than a month ago. They became Facebook friends where they continued to message each other. She finally agreed to go on a date to see the movie "Lights Out."
Jane said the man acted normally until after the movie let out. He even bought the tickets and sat next to her in the theater. As Jane walked to her car, the man quickly pulled up in his truck. Jane said he blocked her in and before she realized it, the man was sitting in her back seat and demanded her purse.
"He said, 'Give me your purse. I want your purse.' I said, 'Just take it. Take my purse,'" said Jane. "He politely walked back and got in the truck."
Jane immediately called 911 and followed the truck. However, she lost him at a busy intersection. Jane said the man used her bank card to buy gas just minutes later. Jane described the moment she realized her date turned into a nightmare.
"Oh my God! I can't believe this is happening to me," said Jane. "When I finally let my guard down to talk to someone, I'm getting robbed? I was in shock."
The Houston Police Department is investigating the situation. Jane said she thought she took showed effort precaution. However, she said you can never do enough when it comes to online dating. She suggested you perform a background check on anyone you meet off dating websites.
"I hope that you get caught. It's not right to do what you're doing," said Jane. "I think it's really sad you prey on innocent women. I hope justice gets served soon."
In the Houston area, you can easily visit local county websites and search for criminal offenses. You can even perform run a background check on the Texas Department of Public Safety's website.
The man who Jane identified as the robber to Eyewitness News has a criminal background. He's been arrested for drug possession, attempted car burglary, and giving false information.
If you're concerned about who you're meeting online, here are some websites on which you can find out if someone has a criminal record.
http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/index.aspx?page=176
http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/dc/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.mctx.org/dept/departments_d/district_clerk/
http://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/district-clerk
https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/dpswebsite/criminalhistory/
