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What Chesterfield is doing to make Craigslist sales safer

Posted at 12:26 AM, Feb 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-19 08:45:12-05

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- The Chesterfield Sheriff's Office has created a "safe exchange zone" outside the county’s courthouse where online buyers and sellers can meet.

The area is meant to be a place where buyers and sellers can meet safely so people do not have make exchanges in dark parking lots or at their homes.

The Chesterfield Sheriff's Office says their new safe zone is at the main courthouse and it's painted blue.

There is also video surveillance for extra protection.

Chesterfield Craigslist Safe Zone

Chesterfield Craigslist Safe Zone

Other 'Safe Exchange Zones'

Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg joined law enforcement agencies across the country in 2015 when they added "safe exchange zones" to their parking lots.

The Petersburg Sheriff's Office also established a safe exchange zone in the early part of November 2015 with .designated areas in their parking lot, located in the rear of their main office, as well as the Sheriff’s Office lobby.

Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham told WTVR CBS 6 in December that buyers and sellers should come into the lobbies of any of RPD’s precinct headquarters or the main headquarters to conduct their transactions.

At last check, Henrico police said they were not planning to add a "safe exchange zone."

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