Harrison Police Offer Online Selling Safe Exchange Zone

By Mike Perleberg A new "Internet Purchase Exchange Location" has been designated in the parking lot of the Harrison Police Department. Photo by City of Harrison. (Harrison, Oh.) - The Harrison Police Department is extending a courtesy to citizens who are meeting up to buy and sell items. People purchasing or selling goods from others on websites like Craigslist can sometimes worry about if the person they are doing business with has good intentions. We've all seen news stories about buyers showing up to a meeting just to be robbed in Virginia; a college student slain in Missouri in May after agreeing to sell a car; a job seeker in Ohio killed and buried by a prospective employer. Earlier this year, a police department in Boca Raton, Florida had the idea to offer up their parking lot as a safer location for strangers meeting to complete a deal. Now the Harrison PD has followed suit. The department this week introduced a special area in its parking lot where citizens can meet to conduct legal transactions. The location is under 24-hour camera surveillance and is close to an emergency police call box, just in case somebody tries to pull some funny business. The main goal of this service is to lessen the potential dangers of online buying and selling by providing the HPD parking lot as a known landmark to meet and conduct legal, private transactions. There are a few rules for the use of the parking lot space as a transaction meet-up spot. Sales of alcohol, drugs, weapons, motor vehicles, boats or other large equipment are not permitted. Officers will not assist with any transactions. Also, property may not be dropped off and left unattended if the buyer does not show up. The parking spaces outside the Harrison Police Department, 311 Harrison Avenue, are marked with special signage.