United Group Insurance

Pickup truck purchase goes bad in Council Bluffs

News

July 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two Nebraska men were robbed Saturday when they went to purchase a pickup truck in Council Bluffs. According to Bluffs Police Sgt. Dave Dawson, 56-year old James Burdick and 54-year old Robert Coats, both of Omaha, were threatened and robbed by a black male brandishing a small hand gun, and a white female holding a crow bar. The incident happened at around 10:50-a.m., Saturday.

Dawson says Burdick and Coats, both employees of A-1 Auto Parts, and a towing affiliate, were instructed to meet with the unidentified suspects in the 1400 block of 4th Avenue, a dead-end street. The men had been given a determined amount of cash to purchase a 2011 Chevy Silverado extended cab truck. WHen they arrived at the predetermined location and about to confirm the sale, they were threatened by the suspects.

Burdick and Coats were forced to turn over the cash and a cell phone to the suspects, who then fled the area in the truck.  The black male suspect was said to be about 20-to 30-years old, about 5-feeet 10-inches tall, with a thin shave beard and a goatee. The white woman was in her late 20’s, was heavy set, and had brown hair in a pony tail.

If you have any information that might help solve the crime, call Crimestoppers at 712-328-7867.