An Adelaide father's attempt to sell his car on Facebook Marketplace turned into a terrifying ordeal when a potential buyer pulled a knife during a test drive and stole the vehicle.
Late-Night Sale Turns Dangerous
Sayed Rafi Haidari listed his silver 2008 BMW on Facebook Marketplace. A man contacted him just before 11pm, insisting he needed to see the car immediately. "He told me, 'Please help me, I need a car for work tomorrow,'" Sayed told 7NEWS. "I said maybe come tomorrow at 6pm… but he was already on his way."
Haidari agreed to let the man take the car for a short test drive. CCTV footage captured the buyer arriving soon after. When he returned, the situation turned frightening.
Knife Threat and Theft
The buyer allegedly pulled a knife, threatened the father of two, and drove off in the BMW. "He showed me the knife… I told him, 'OK brother, you can go,'" Sayed said. Nearby neighbour Jakob Bristow said the ordeal could have ended much worse. "Absolutely scary. Terrifying for him — putting his life at risk with a knife," he told 7NEWS.
Impact on Family
Sayed moved to Australia from Afghanistan two years ago to build a safer life for his family. The robbery has left them shaken and disillusioned. "You've got to be really careful about who you've got coming to your house," neighbour Amanda Kannenberg said.
Safety Advice from Experts
The Motor Trade Association says private sellers should always meet buyers in public places and take extra precautions — including GPS tracking, photographing ID and accompanying buyers on test drives. Police are urging anyone who spots the stolen silver BMW, or who has information about the suspect, to contact them.
