An August meeting at an Irvine park was supposed to end with an e-motorcycle changing hands for money. Instead, the prospective buyer asked for a test ride and rode away without paying, according to the Irvine Police Department.
Detectives later identified Cristian Manzo, 34, of Santa Ana, and arrested him for grand theft. He was booked at Orange County Jail.
The department announced the arrest in a Facebook reel, pairing the case with a pointed observation about the suspect’s online profile.
“If you’re going to steal stuff during a Facebook Marketplace transaction, you should probably not use your actual face as your profile photo,” the department wrote.
A Trial Run
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The seller and prospective buyer arranged the sale through Facebook Marketplace and met at a local park in August. Before handing over payment, the prospective buyer asked to test-ride the e-motorcycle, then rode away without paying.
Detectives subsequently identified Manzo and arrested him for grand theft. The department announced that he had been booked at Orange County Jail, accompanying the arrest announcement with its remark about the suspect using his own face as his profile photo.
A Meeting Place
Alongside the arrest announcement, police reminded residents that the department offers a free e-commerce exchange zone near the front entrance of its parking lot. The area is monitored and illuminated at night.
The department’s exchange-zone guidance identifies the designated spaces by a sign and parking stalls painted “E-Commerce.” Police headquarters is at 1 Civic Center Plaza.
For people arranging online sales, that guidance recommends bringing another adult when possible, keeping home addresses and financial details private, and checking payment and items before completing the exchange. It also advises buyers and sellers to walk away if something feels wrong.
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.