SALISBURY, Md.- Salisbury police have designated police headquarters on West Salisbury Parkway as an E-Commerce Safe Zone. People buying, selling, or trading items arranged online can now meet safely at the police department to finalize the transaction.
With the growing popularity of buying and selling items on websites like craigslist or various Facebook pages, comes an increase in the potential for crime surrounding those in-person transactions.
"We started taking reports for theft from individuals who are attempting to sell products. That they had engaged in this type of exchange online," said Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan.
Duncan made reference to many reports her department has received, including people coordinating to meet at a certain location and the seller would never receive the money that was agreed upon. There is also the added concern for many people over meeting a stranger that you first made contact with online. So to help ease some concerns and ensure the safety of both the buyer and seller, Salisbury police have created the E-Commerce Safe Zone at police headquarters.
People can now buy or sell items in the police department parking lot or in the lobby. Both locations are under video surveillance. Salisbury police, if asked, will even run a check on an item being bought or sold to see if it is stolen.
"That's not a guarantee that the item isn't stolen," Duncan said. "It's just a check to see if it's been reported to law enforcement as a stolen item."
People can use the safe zone 24 hours a day and seven days a week. No appointment is necessary to use the safe zone. However, police do ask you let an officer know you are there to complete an online transaction so officers can keep a watchful eye on the interaction between the buyer and seller.
