Escanaba Public Safety is SafeTrade site

ESCANABA - Escanaba Public Safety announces that the department's parking lot can be used by 
online buyers and sellers as a safer place to make transactions in person.

The selling of private vehicles, household items, clothing and other personal belongings online is 
increasing with national and regional sites connecting buyers with sellers via various social media.

Due to an increase in crimes related to buying and selling online, Escanaba Public Safety recently 
joined SafeTrade - a national safety initiative for people to complete online transactions safely when meeting in person.

"People should meet sellers or buyers at our public parking lot, located on the east side of Public 
Safety," said Escanaba Public Safety Director Ken Vanderlinden. "If a person refuses to meet here, I 
would recommend that the transaction be avoided."

Person-to-person exchanges can be conducted in the department's public parking lot outside Public Safety, which is located at 1900 3rd Ave N. The parking lot is a well-lit area with camera 
surveillance.

SafeTrade is a program used by police and sheriff's departments to encourage transactions at their facilities, for departments to strengthen safety and security initiatives, and for users to insist on "SafeTrade" by conducting transactions outside local police or sheriff's offices.