By George P. Hassett

Somerville police set up a sting operation last week to nab three men allegedly trying to sell a stolen laptop computer on Craig’s List.

Police said the laptop was stolen in a home break-in at 75 Central St. on Oct. 15. Four days later, the victim allegedly saw the laptop for sale on Craig’s List.

Somerville Police Detective James Donovan called the number on the posting and expressed interest in buying the laptop, police said.

Michael Baptista, 20, of Malden, allegedly called Donovan back and negotiated a sale price of $1,200 for the computer.

When Baptista arrived to sell the computer he was allegedly with two people, Magnuson Viera, 22, of 168 Walnut St., and Benjamin Ribeiro, 20, of 3 Marcella St., Cambridge.

Baptista was holding the computer, police said.

Police said the serial number on the computer matched the information on the computer stolen from 75 Central St.

Somerville Police Detective Alex Capobianco dialed the phone number given in the Craig’s List ad and Baptista’s cellphone began to ring, police said.

The cost to replace the laptop was $2,200, police said. Baptista, Viera and Ribeiro were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and conspiracy.