Coquitlam Facebook sale ends in bear spray, prompts warning

A woman in Coquitlam is going public after she says she was robbed and bear sprayed during what was supposed to be a Facebook Marketplace sale on Sunday.

Sirapat Pimpariue tells The Leader Spirit she is feeling scared and vulnerable after the buyer bear sprayed her and her boyfriend in the face and ran off with the Canada Goose jacket she was trying to sell.

“I feel a little bit scared. I feel like (someone) can attack me at any time. I’m a bit scared of attacks in public, people attacking me,” said Pimpariue.

“I want to spread this news and make sure people are aware of (what can happen). I think it’s better to meet in a public place with many people around, or even a police station. I just want to share this news to be a good example, so people can be careful.”

She says the sale began like any other online transaction. She posted an add, found a buyer, and made plans to meet outside the buyer’s home at his request.

Pimpariue admits she was initially apprehensive but ended up agreeing to go because she was accompanied by her boyfriend.

“Once he had (the jacket) fully on, he pulled up his top, and then took out the bear spray and hit us. When he ran away, he sprayed our car and just ran back to the side of the house. We got back to the car and drove away right away,” she recalled.

“(The spray) came to my face, straight … on my face and on my hoodie as well … My face and hands were burning, they felt very burned.”

The woman says she and her partner were able to make it to a gas station, where they washed their faces in the bathroom before calling police.

“This is (the) first time in my life that someone bear sprayed me. I felt extremely scared and shocked. I didn’t know if I could survive the burning on my face from where he sprayed me,” Pimpariue said.

Woman urges others to take precautions

In addition to the police report, she also captured part of the attack on video and posted it online to warn others. Pimpariue is urging buyers and sellers to take steps to protect themselves in order to make sure a similar incident does not happen to them.

She points out there were red flags that she would have paid better attention to had she known more about online scams and how to recognize them.

Pimpariue says the response since she posted the video to social media has been overwhelming.

“Once I shared my story I got so much support and advice,” she explained.

“I was just talking with so many people. It just makes me feel so much better that so many support me, and they can say that this is not right.”

The Coquitlam RCMP says the investigation remains ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Mounties recommend buyers and sellers in the Tri Cities use the Coquitlam RCMP’s buy and sell exchange zone, which is under 24/7 surveillance.

For those unable to use it, the RCMP recommends completing transactions during the day, bringing a friend along with you, and never completing a transaction by mail.

Police also advise people to meet in a busy, public location and to limit the personal information you provide a buyer or seller.