Law enforcement officials share safety tips for online marketplace exchanges
Law enforcement officials are sharing safety tips after two recent online marketplace deals led to violent crimes and arrests.
The common link between the two crimes, both of these victims were trying to either sell or buy an electronic item.
We spoke to Ben Guitron with the Indio Police Department who offered several tips like meeting in a public parking lot during the day.
Sheriff Deputies in Palm Desert say last Friday a 17-year-old from Desert Hot Springs robbed a victim who had arranged an iPhone sale.
On December 30, Deputies in Indian Wells say a 19-year-old from Indio was arrested for posing as someone selling an Xbox, then robbing that victim at gunpoint.
Ben Guitron with the Indio Police Department is sharing tips to avoid being a victim in a similar situation.
"Number one, never meet anybody in a secluded area. Always go, if you're gonna go during the day at a place of business where it's busy, you know at a shopping center or somewhere where there's a lot of foot traffic and visibility," says Guitron.
He also recommends bringing an extra set of eyes.
Many of these sales are coordinated online with strangers, but Guitron says to make them safe try making a transaction in the parking lot of your local city police department.
"Like your Indio police department, or the sheriff's office or any other Valley City police agencies," says Guitron.
The Indio Police Department designated their public parking lot as a 'Safe Exchange Zone' a few years ago.
"We noticed the same thing, we noticed people were being victims," says Guitron.
And that parking lot can be used for several occasions.
"We also have the parents that have custody by court order to pick up their child or whatever their arrangements are. They come to the parking lot...They park their car, they make their exchange, and they move on," says Guitron.
You can always call your nearby public safety agency to get more information on their hours and public parking.
Some planning ahead of time can prevent a life threatening incident.
