Online Shopping: Before meeting someone to exchange items, read this

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Many police services nationwide allow the use of their lobbies for such transactions. The Fort Worth Police Service in Texas, for example, is proposing the use of its facilities in different positions during business hours. "Do not bring weapons," he says.

In the city of Smyrna, Georgia, the police department has qualified the operation "Operation Safe Sale". It provides parking or a 24-hour lobby, and sellers or buyers can also ask agents to be present during the transaction, the city said.
In Woodstock, Georgia, buyers or sellers can make an appointment in the lobby or parking lot of a police department and ask an agent to be present during the transaction. It also provides a number to call to schedule an agent for a transaction after hours.

You can also use designated parking lots

In addition to the entrance halls, some police stations allow residents to use their car parks as places to "sell purchases on the Internet". The city of Ankeny, in Iowa, is one of them.

"Transporting these objects to the parking lot of the police department reduces the risks of danger to the seller or his family and his property, as well as the possibility of a counterfeit currency exchange," says Ankeny Town. on his website.

The city does not allow sellers and buyers to store such items at the police department or on the parking lot. But this allows the transaction of large items like a vehicle or lawn mower on their parking lot.

"In addition, this area can be used as a safe and neutral place for parents to meet for childcare exchanges," said the city.

In Georgia, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office also has such parking lots and displays signs with a phone number to call if you would like a deputy to come and arrest you. Although his deputy ministers do not oversee the transactions, he added, the designated parking spaces are under video surveillance.

Some police stations allow residents to use their car parks as

Agents can check if objects have been stolen

Efforts are not limited to ensuring the safety of buyers and sellers.

In Smyrna, police can check items sold before the end of the transaction to see if they are lost or stolen, the city said on its website.

The Woodstock Police Service can also check the serial numbers of Georgian and national database items to ensure they are not stolen.

Not all police services check serial numbers to see if items sold are stolen. The Fort Worth Police Department, for example, says this is not the case for its officers.

"If you choose to meet at a police station, keep in mind that it is generally forbidden for city employees to participate in or interfere in private business transactions," he said. said the Fort Worth Police Department. "Police officers and municipal employees will not participate in the transaction and will not assist the transaction by entering serial numbers to determine whether a particular item has been declared stolen or missing."
Police officers can check items sold before the end of the transaction to see if they are lost or stolen.

Some online markets have meeting spaces

Companies such as the OfferUp online marketplace have partnered with police stations to create a safe place to do business. Sellers or buyers can find the nearest location by putting their addresses on their website or app.

"These spots are well-lit and equipped with video cameras and are the perfect meeting place for inspecting items and making sales," says OfferUp on its website. Cameras at these locations operate 24 hours a day and record sequences accessible to the police.
As part of its efforts, OfferUp provided additional training to detectives from the Dallas Police Department last year on how to detect and stop criminal activities during online transactions.
Some companies have partnered with police stations to create a safe place to do business.

Officers provide advice and alternative meeting places

During transactions, agents may also give additional advice.

For example, Smyrna agents urge people involved in expensive transactions to operate in a banking institution, where funds can be verified when transferring to one or the other party.

And if you do not like going to the police station, any other public place will do the job very well.

"Always go to a public place, such as a restaurant or mall, or wherever there is a lot of pedestrian or automobile traffic." Never meet in places away, " said Fort Worth police.

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