Featured Image Credit: TMJ4
Topics: Crime, US News, Sex and Relationships, Technology
Gerrard Kaonga
A Milwaukee man has urged others to be wary of some of the dangers when meeting people from dating apps after he was robbed.
Speaking to TMJ4 News, Davie Hackbarth explained that he had been talking to someone on Grindr in December and eventually decided to meet up.
He noted that prior to this decision, there were some red flags, like a lack of pictures on their profile, but he decided to go regardless, a move that would leave him shaken.
Hackbarth admitted that at the time he was 'pretty lonely', but the address he had driven to seemed like a normal residential area, which was well-lit and could be trusted.
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A man came to Hackbarth’s car door and the pair began walking down an alley to what he thought was his home.
He explained that he started to feel something was wrong and 'stopped in his tracks' before the man pulled out a gun. Another person also came out into the fray and the pair demanded his belongings and beat him repeatedly, striking him with the gun.
Hackbarth explained: “I've never had a gun pointed at me before... I kinda realized it was do or die.
“He said, give us the passcode, or we'll kill you. So it was pretty terrifying.”
After the assault, he was able to go to a local gas station and call the police and tell them what had happened.
Hackbarth has said he hopes that sharing his experience will ensure other people do what they can to keep themselves safe, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community.
He added: “Just know you're not alone if this happens to you, there's a lot of shame in these dating apps and I don't think there should be.”
The Milwaukee Police have said they have seen a recent spike in robberies connected to dating apps, particularly those targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
The police’s advice is to meet in a public place, tell someone else where you are going and be wary of profiles that do not have many photos.
Hackbarth has agreed with this and insisted people should prioritize their safety, not shame when it comes to crimes like this.
He also called on Grindr and other dating apps to have stricter verification processes to help prevent this from happening to others.
Authorities said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
UNILAD has contacted Grindr and the Milwaukee Police Department for comment.