“Safe Exchange Zone” signs have been placed above two parking spots in the EPS Southwest Division public parking lot, located on the northwest side of the police station. The parking spaces are monitored by video cameras 24/7.
The move to provide a “safe space” for buyers and sellers to meet and conduct transactions involving online goods, is a result of increased reports of criminal activity, says EPS Det. Michael Walkom, of the service’s Cyber Crime Investigations Unit.
“Last year alone, we made 77 arrests and laid 218 charges, in relation to the face-to-face buying and selling of items listed online,” Walkom explained. “Our investigations led to the recovery of $170,000 in stolen property and 64 arrest warrants being executed, not to mention numerous incidents of violent offences including personal robberies facilitated through these face-to-face exchanges.
“So obviously, there’s a need for this type of initiative. If this test pilot is successful at Southwest Division, we could see the expansion of these Safe Exchange Zones to other police stations across the city.”
Walkom noted, however, that EPS members will not be available to assist citizens with negotiations of any property transactions at the new Safe Exchange Zone.
“The Safe Exchange Zone at Southwest Division is intended to provide citizens with a safe alternative to placing themselves in potentially vulnerable positions when meeting someone for the first time regarding the sale or purchase of items listed online.”
The new Safe Exchange Zone is now available to the public, and is located in the northwest public parking lot at EPS Southwest Division, 1351 Windermere Way. Citizens are encouraged, however, to use the Safe Exchange Zone during daylight hours. Southwest Division station is open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A phone that connects users with 911 can be accessed inside the vestibule of the station’s main entrance, should the public need to report a crime.
Online Purchase Safety Tips
Meeting Safety Tips:
- If you use the SW Division Safe Exchange Zone parking stalls to make an online purchase exchange, please remember to still practice these safety tips - do not put yourself under a false sense of security! Southwest Division is not open 24/7, our officers are not monitoring the parking lots.
- Do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers into your home.
- Have someone come with you when you meet. If you cannot arrange for someone to come with you, let friends or family know where you are going, what time you're meeting, and all the details about who you are meeting. Let your contact know that everything is okay.
- Ask the buyer for photo ID. Take a photo of it for your reference.
- Buying or selling a vehicle? Offer to meet at an automotive garage where the vehicle's quality can be assured, instead of offering a test drive.
Buying Safety Tips:
- Do not disclose to the seller how you will be paying if it's not necessary. If the seller is aware that you will be arriving with a large quantity of cash, it is an excellent opportunity for a personal robbery to take place.
- Obtain a bill of sale and verify the seller's identity through photo ID. Inform the seller that you want this before meeting, this will deter those selling illegitimate property from selling the property.
- Check the serial number on CPIC to determine if it is stolen. This can be accessed by the public here.
- Ask the seller why they are selling the property.
- For buyers and sellers: Take screenshots of the advertisements, the advertisement ID number, the seller's contact information, and all communications.
- IMPORTANT: If you turn a blind eye to obvious clues that the property is stolen but buy it anyway, you can be found to be willfully blind to the fact that the property is stolen and you may be criminally charged.
- If you locate property being sold that you believe to be stolen, report it to police.