Photo by Miki J.

D.C. Police have arrested a man who they say sexually assaulted a woman after he posed as a someone interested in buying a cellphone that she posted online.

The incident took place in the early morning hours on Monday at the woman’s home near Rhode Island Avenue Metro station, according to a release from the Metropolitan Police Department. Police arrested 23-year-old Andre Lucas, of Hyattsville, on Thursday. He’s been charged with first degree sexual abuse, burglary one, and robbery.

Police say Lucas agreed to meet the woman to buy a cell phone that she posted on the “Offer Up” app. The woman told police that around 4 a.m., he “forced his way into the residence, forced her to perform oral sex,” and took two iPhones and a laptop, according to an MPD report. He then fled the scene.

In order to prevent these types of robberies from happening, D.C. police designated three safe spaces around the city for buying and selling things among strangers. The “exchange zones” launched last spring, at which time former D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said detectives made arrests in 28 robberies linked to transactions negotiated on sites like Craigslist.

The spaces are located near the Third District station (1620 V Street, NW), the Sixth District station (5002 Hayes Street NE), and the Special Operations Division’s Harbor Patrol site (550 Water Street SW).