SAFE WEB SALES
Police offer protected online exchange zones
The Boston Police Department has created “safe exchange zones” at local police stations across the city so online buyers and sellers alike have a secure, public place to trade goods.
With the increased popularity of e-commerce via sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Letgo and Craigslist, there has been an increased need for spaces to meet and sell goods, said police.
“In an effort to keep these arranged dealings as safe as possible, the BPD is introducing designated ‘Safe Exchange Zones’ at every Boston Police District Station across the city, as well as BPD Headquarters,” the department said in an announcement of the new program.
A spokesman said the department was already allowing the exchanges in an informal manner, but decided to make it an official program.
Police said it was created in response to multiple robberies of people arranging exchanges.
In November, a Dorchester teen was killed when he was dragged by a car while trying to sell a phone.
In a report released by the Consumer Federation of America in 2018, state and local agencies reported seeing an increase in robberies from e-commerce meetings.
OfferUp — a popular exchange app — said for its users crime is rare, but that safe meetings are a top priority.
“We believe the more options you can provide to your community to help them be safer, the better,” the company said in a statement. “People want to know that there are safer, public surveilled locations they can go to exchange their items.”
“For us, local departments and law enforcement are critical partners to help drive awareness and education for people who are meeting with strangers and selling things online,” the statement said.
Several e-commerce sites advise that meeting in a public place, especially a police station, is the best practice. They also recommend bringing a friend, meeting during the day and staying vigilant.
The safe exchange sites are available at every district station, as well as Boston police headquarters, and monitored by video surveillence. Boston is just one of dozens of departments across Massachusetts implementing the practice.