COLUMBIA, MD — The Howard County Police Department reminds residents that there are three designated safe places to carry out transactions made online after a teenager was robbed while attempting to buy a cell phone from an individual he had been in contact with.

According to the police department, the teenage boy met the online seller in person in the 7000 block of Cradlerock Way Monday at 2:11 p.m. to buy the cell phone. But the man who showed up stole the teenager's cash and took off. Police are searching for the suspect, believed to be 18 or 19 years old, who was wearing a gray jacket and sweatpants at the time of the incident.

Designated safe spaces for carrying out such transactions are marked with yellow signs at the Northern District Station at 3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City; and Southern District Station at 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel; and Community Outreach at 10471 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Individuals also can use the lobby at each station.