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Oak Forest Police Chief Gregory Anderson's department has created some new "Internet Purchase Exchange Locations" in the lobby and parking lot at the police department. Online shoppers can close their deals at the safe locations with surveillance cameras and police nearby.
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Online purchases and swaps are a popular way to shop and exchange goods. In recognition of some safety concerns Chief Lee has established a Safe Exchange Zone in the front parking lot to meet and exchange these items. The police station property is covered by 24 hour surveillance and the station is staffed 24 hours a day as well.  Individuals conducting an internet sales transaction are welcome to meet in the West Hartford Police Department, CT parking lot to ensure their personal safety. “It’s on camera, it’s right outside the police station, there are plenty of people around,” West Hartford Police Lt. Ted Stoneburner said. The parking lot, located on the south side of the police station at 103 Raymond Rd. (on left when facing the building) is under 24-hour surveillance. Transactions should be conducted outside, not in the lobby of the station, he added.  The city of Chamblee has taken steps to make such a situation worry free. On March 30, the city designated two downtown locations as “Online Exchange Zones” where the public can meet to buy, sell or trade items. The two areas, located at the Chamblee Police Department lobby and nearby parking lot, offer a place to conduct business 24 hours a day and seven days a week through constant video surveillance. “In addition, police officers will be available if needed to stand by to increase everyone’s sense of security,” reads a release. “If requested, police officers will check serial numbers against stolen item databases in an effort to assure they are not already reported stolen.” In order to exchange safely, users are instructed to call the Chamblee Police Department a few minutes before their arrival. Read more about it! Click here.  According to research done by Advanced Interactive Media Group, as of January this year, more than 100 slayings have been linked to Craigslist postings. Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes has implemented a “safe zone” to keep people from being added to those statistics and provide a safe area away from people’s private residence to meet for transactions or needed exchanges. “I saw an article that Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie had written. … They did one of these in Effingham County, and I thought it was a great idea and felt that we needed to implement it here,” Sikes said during a news conference held Thursday at the Liberty County Jail on Paul Sikes Road. There is now a designated parking area marked with red paint and a sign. It is a reserved space marked as a safe transaction zone for Internet, EBay and Craigslist purchases as well as a neutral spot for child custody exchanges. Sikes said the safe zone is under video surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and law-enforcement officials are inside the building and patrolling the jail. He said if people are not willing to meet at the safe zone, it may be wise not to complete the deal.  Liberty County Sherriff Steve Sikes standing in front of safe zone sign
The safe zone, located outside the police station, is marked with an "Internet Purchase Exchange Location" sign.security cameras will monitor the area 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At least two police departments in Arkansas recently installed safe-exchange zones that feature a few parking spaces, signs and surveillance cameras. The Batesville Police Department created a safe zone in mid-February, and the Springdale Police Department built its zone Feb. 29.
In coming months, several of the state's larger-city police departments plan to do the same. The Little Rock and North Little Rock departments expect to post signs and designate parking in several of their respective precincts. The Jonesboro Police Department hopes to have a zone in place by May 1. ALABASTER, Ala. (WIAT) — There’s now a safe place to conduct transactions made on trading websites, like Craigslist. Last week, the City of Alabaster created its first “Safe Trade Zone,” to avoid these dangerous or deceitful situations. “The intent of this is to provide people an opportunity to do their trade that they would have conducted otherwise, maybe somewhere not as public,” Henry said. The trade zone is behind the city’s old municipal complex, across from the Alabaster Police Department. It’s also equipped with multiple surveillance cameras, which record 24 hours a day (though they are not constantly monitored).  How to protect yourself when making Craigslist transactions: officers from two up and running safe zones reiterate tips for online buyers
Many police departments, including Lee's Summit, encourage transactions in their parking lot or lobby. Overland Park Officer Richard Breshears says their lobby is open to the public 24/7, but bad things can happen anywhere. "If you have nowhere else to go and you don't feel comfortable meeting this person offline and exchanging property, feel free to come by our department and use our facilities," says Breshears. "We would like to believe that it's highly unlikely, or less likely, to occur on a property that belongs to the police department where there are officers on the scene 24 hours a day, but it could happen." If you can't make it to a police station, be wary. See if a friend or family member can tag along. If all else fails, trust your gut. And if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The Pittsburg Police Department has taken the safe-ground concept out the front door, opening last week what it calls an "exchange zone" in front of the City Hall and police station.
Two specially-marked parking spaces, each with an "exchange zone" sign saying the area "has been designated for conducting private property transactions," are well-lighted and monitored around the clock by surveillance cameras to deter bad-guy buyers and sellers. To read the whole story, click here. |
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