Truro Police station offers safe spot for exchanges
More people are shopping online during the pandemic and the Truro Police Service want community members to know about its safe exchange zone for buying and selling.
Offering a safe space gives people who are making transactions through online meetings a more comfortable option than doing so elsewhere, such as in a parking lot, said Deputy Chief Robert Hearn.
“In an area like this, we would hope that it would bring everybody to the table and make everyone feel safer doing their transaction.”
Truro police started the initiative in 2015 when transactions through online classifieds such as Kijiji and Facebook (now Facebook Marketplace) started gaining traction. The aim was to create a safe space for both buyers and sellers to meet.
The Truro Police Service offers its front lobby and back parking lot — particularly for larger items — as safe buy and sell locations. Surveillance cameras are always recording and there is ample room for social distancing.
“We did have a few complaints that people were meeting people in areas that made them unsafe and those type of things,” said Hearn. “So, we thought with our building being open 24-7, it’s a pretty safe facility.”
No appointments are needed and no interaction with staff is required.
Officers understand that exchanges happen there and anyone who does need help can ring the buzzer at the front desk. Police do not track who comes and goes.
Hearn emphasized that not all transactions between strangers go wrong, but there is always that potential.
Some risks include theft, stolen money, assault or situations involving products that not appear other than as advertised, which can create arguments over price or quality.
“Anybody that may be thinking about doing something underhanded would probably think twice, to do it at a police station,” said Hearn. “And if they do something underhanded, it’s pretty easy for us to apprehend them at the end of the day. So, it’s a win for everybody.”