East Brunswick, NJ Creates 'Safe Zone' for Craigslist Sales

 The East Brunswick police department has established a "Safe Exchange Zone" for Craigslist sales and other online marketplaces, the department announced Wednesday.

The designated “Safe Exchange Zone” will be available to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week in the parking lot of the Municipal Court next to Police Headquarters.

East Brunswick police said they thought a zone like this was necessary after seeing an an increase in violence, fraud and theft by deception related to Craigslist sales.
"In an effort to promote safer transactions between strangers, we are encouraging residents to use their local police department’s designated parking lots and lobbies as a meeting place for in-person transactions to occur," the department said in a statement.

Access to the lobby of police headquarters for meetings may be arranged in advance by calling the police department, and only during non-court hours.

​While East Brunswick will not provide police personnel or staff to witness transactions in person, the area's video surveillance and proximity to police HQ is meant to increase the public’s peace of mind when they meet strangers to buy or sell an item.