Carrollton Police Deal Stolen at Secure Parking Lot

A Facebook Marketplace transaction in the Carrollton Police Department parking lot turned into a theft that shocked local law‑enforcement.

Incident Overview

Around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, a seller arranged to sell two flashy watches—each listed for about $900—through Facebook Marketplace. The buyer and seller agreed to meet in the department parking lot, but the meeting did not take place in the designated safe‑exchange zone. The seller parked elsewhere in the lot, a secure area, and the buyer arrived across the street.

The victim stepped out of the car, a practice police encourage so that transactions remain visible on surveillance cameras. The buyer asked to try on the watches, then ran off and jumped into a waiting car with a second suspect.

Police Response

Carrollton Detective Juvensio Vazquez was notified the next morning. “When I read it, I’m like: Come on. In front of the police department? But, it’s alright,” Vazquez said. “I just can’t believe it happened, honestly.”

Vazquez showed NBC 5 the lot and explained that a camera on the corner of the building captured the entire offense. “It happened right over here, and as you can see, there’s a camera right on the corner of the building that captured the entire offense,” he said. “The cameras are really good high definition. Very good resolution on the camera and it also gives us 360 wide‑angle angle of the police department.”

Surveillance Evidence

Surveillance and license‑plate‑reader cameras captured the vehicle that the buyer and second suspect used to flee. The footage showed the car leaving the parking lot and heading toward Cooke County.

“He was located in Cooke County,” Vazquez said. “One of the individuals, and that’s where we found the property.”

Police body‑camera footage confirmed that one of the luxury watches was recovered. The second watch and the second suspect remain missing.

Suspects and Charges

Dallas County jail records show 18‑year‑old Patrick Berryman is in custody on a theft charge. No further details about the second suspect are provided in the article.

Safety Tips from Detectives

While the seller took several appropriate safety steps, Vazquez highlighted red flags for others:

• If buyers or sellers are walking up to a location, that’s not a good idea. “You can always say, ‘No, let’s meet inside.’ This building remains open to the public.”
• Avoid nighttime deals and bring someone with you.
• Verify that cash is not counterfeit. If using payment apps, confirm that transactions go through before handing over items.
• Ask for collateral. “You’re never wrong for asking someone for collateral,” Vazquez said. “If you’re going to sell a watch, a cell phone, a PlayStation device—we have people out here selling Pokémon cards—if you’re going to do that, ask to hold something.”

Key Takeaways

• Two $900 watches were stolen during a Facebook Marketplace transaction in a secure parking lot.
• Surveillance captured the theft and the getaway vehicle, leading to a suspect in Cooke County.
• 18‑year‑old Patrick Berryman is in jail on a theft charge; the second suspect remains at large.
• Police advise meeting inside secure areas, avoiding nighttime deals, and verifying payment and cash authenticity.

The incident serves as a reminder that even highly monitored locations can be vulnerable if safety protocols are not followed.