Lombard cops arrest Craigslist seller in undercover sting

A man from the south suburbs put a stolen motorcycle on Craigslist and was arrested after he tried to sell it to undercover police officers in Lombard, prosecutors said Thursday.

Jason Schaffer, 31, of Burnham, was ordered held on $250,000 bail at an appearance before DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton. He is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Prosecutor Tom Vega said Lombard police, posing as potential buyers, contacted Schaffer after he advertised a 2006 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle for sale online. The ad noted that the bike had no vehicle identification number or title, he said.

Schaffer was arrested after he arrived in Lombard to sell the vehicle Wednesday, Vega said. He said officers determined the motorcycle had been stolen two weeks earlier and that its VIN number was scratched off and painted over.

Prosecutors said Schaffer has prior convictions for possessing stolen vehicles and has served in prison. If convicted, he would be eligible for an extended term of more than 30 years because of his criminal record, Vega said.

Schaffer is scheduled to appear July 10 before Judge John Kinsella.