Arlington PD Creates Safe Zone For Online Shopping Exchanges
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Police in Arlington have joined the growing list of police departments to offer a safe area where online buyers and sellers can meet to exchange merchandise.
Officials in the city recognized that as more people do their shopping online more criminals began "capitalizing on the vulnerabilities of doing business with a stranger."
Arlington created a Safe Exchange location, where people can conduct face-to-face meetings for the sale or trade of items, at the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Building at 620 W. Division Street. Signs erected outside the building denote the parking lot as a Safe Exchange Zone.
Arlington Police Sergeant Paul Rodriguez said, "We have seen the rise of different social sites, like Craigslist and OfferUp and different places, where unfortunately there are different people on those sites who aren't the honest folks they portray themselves to be."
Arlington police say when it comes to online merchandise exchanges, the items thieves most often target are tennis shoes, cell phones, laptops and tablets. Robbery Sergeant Jason Rash says the safe zone location should be a deterrent for criminals. "People with the bad intentions will think twice about meeting you and making a transaction at a police station."
Regardless as to whether a buyer or seller is conducting a transaction in a safe zone, police say there are steps everyone can take to stay safe.
- Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Research both the product you are buying and the person selling to/buying from.
- Never list your home address, phone number, or anything else that could be used to identify you.
- Be wary of individuals who solicit your business without your permission.
- There is safety in numbers. Always take someone with you to conduct a transaction.
- Monitor your children's internet activity.
- Never meet in out of the way locations.
- Conduct business in a public area with people nearby and never inside of a vehicle.
- Don't allow the other party to change the location once you arrive.
The Ott Cribbs building is the main facility for the Arlington Police Department and also houses the 911 Communications Center, Fire Department Administrative services and the Emergency Operations Center. The building is manned 24 hours a day and has a heavy police presence.
Carrollton and Denton are just two of the many North Texas police departments also offering online safe zones in their city. Contact your local police department and see if there is a safe zone location near you.
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