As a pilot project, Chicago police have established hours for people to use the lobby and parking lot of the Town Hall District police station on the North Side for the safe exchange of items they buy or sell through Craigslist and other online sites.

All of the city's police stations have been available for such exchanges, but the department wanted to set up some guidelines and publicize the program in an area that sees a higher volume of robberies related to Craigslist and similar sites.

Read more here.

​As a response to the variety of “scams” that occur, the sheriff’s office Rochester Hills substation is now providing a safe E-Commerce zone in their parking lot for individuals who want to complete  online purchases or sales more safely. 

The E-Commerce zone is well lit with clearly marked signage and is also equipped with a high definition camera which records all activity within the zone.

Read more here.

In the wake of an online transaction that ended in a shooting that left two men wounded,  Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff Leon Lott is reminding citizens that the Sheriff's Department offers Internet Exchange Safety Zones for citizens to utilize as public exchange locations for those who buy, sell or exchange items via social media.

The Safe Zones are also for child drop off/pick up for those who are co-parenting.

The Sheriff’s Department has set up “Internet Exchange Safety Zone” signs at five of its eight regions throughout Richland County.

Read more here.

In Lyndhurst, N.J., a "safe-trade zone" that allows residents to exchange products purchased through sites like Craigslist has been set up outside the police department.
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Police Chief Jim O'Connor said police are seeing an increase in e-commerce transactions that end in violence, sexual assault or robbery. 

Two designated parking spots behind Lyndhurst Police Headquarters are monitored with video surveillance and are well lit. O'Connor said residents can use the police department lobby as well to make the exchange. O'Connor and Public Safety Commissioner John Montillo set up the zone hoping to limit the chances of residents being victims of crime.

Bloomingdale, Closter, Allendale and Butler also have set up safe zones.

Read more here.

The Decatur (Ill.) Police Department recommends that people buying or selling online meet at the Police Department in their 'Safe Zone.'

Sgt. Jon Quehl of the Decatur Police Department said police established the Safe Zone "to give citizens an area, or an opportunity to go to an area, that would be safe to conduct business over Facebook or Craigslist."

​Read more here.

By Michelle Merlin of The Morning Call

Anyone hoping to carry out a Craiglist or other online transaction with a stranger can now meet outside the Allentown police station on Hamilton and 10th streets.

Allentown officials unveiled the safe exchange site Thursday morning. Two 15-minute parking spaces have been designated for transactions and offer what authorities said is a safer option than meeting in a vacant parking lot or a public park after dark.

"It gives folks an extra layer of security," said Mayor Ed Pawlowski. "A place they can have a safe place to do their sales and do their transactions without being worried that wherever they're doing that transaction something may occur."
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There are cameras all around the street and police staff the station 24/7, offering a deterrent for potential criminals.

​Read more here.

​SHARON K. MERKEL / SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and police Chief Keith Morris unveiled the city's first Safe Sale Zone for people who buy items off online sellers like Craigslist at a news conference on Wednesday at the Allentown Police Patrol Station in Allentown.

By Michael Gannon, Editor

The NYPD’s 105th Precinct on Monday extended an offer to residents who might not be quite sure about conducting transactions with strangers they have contacted on Craigslist.

Speaking before a meeting of Community Board 13, Inspector Jeffrey Schiff said those seeking a neutral place to meet someone might want to consider 92-08 222 Street in Queens Village.
The address is that of Schiff’s station house.

“We had seven grand larcenies last week,” Schiff said. “Five of them were Craigslist.”

Read more here.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON
Uncertain about that Craigslist contact you’re going to meet? Inspector Jeffrey Schiff says meet him any time you like in front of the NYPD’s 105th Precinct.

The parking lot of police headquarters on Rockdale Avenue has been designated as an Internet Purchase Safe Exchange Zone, a safe place for completing online transactions, police said.
The parking lot is monitored with security cameras 24 hours a day. No appointment or notification is needed to use the parking lot for transactions. For more information about the Internet Purchase Safe Exchange Zone, contact Lt. Amos Melo, public information officer of the NBPD, at 508-991-6300, ext. 79427.

​To read the full news story click here.