Deerfield Police Station To Be Safe Place for Online Transactions

The Deerfield Police Department is the latest local police department to offer a safe location to conduct Internet transactions.

Members of the community are welcome to utilize the lobby and/or parking lot of the Deerfield Police Department located at 850 Waukegan Road to conduct prearranged transactions made on the Internet, the department posted on their Facebook page Wednesday. The decision comes in light of the recent surge in popularity of deals being made on Craigslist and other online “Garage Sales” groups.

Here are a few guidelines:

•Transactions can be conducted in the lobby of the Deerfield Police Department between the hours of 7am and 6pm.

•Police Department personnel will not oversee or be involved in the transaction in any way. Disputes regarding the sale price, condition of the item, or quantity are considered to be a civil matter.

•Large, cumbersome items, furniture, appliances, and outdoor equipment cannot be brought into the lobby but sales of these items can take place in the parking lot.

•The sale of counterfeit, stolen, or other illegal items is prohibited.

•Transactions cannot disrupt the daily business of the Police Department.

Other safety tips for buying and selling on the Internet:

•Be suspicious of a buyer or seller who changes the agreed upon meeting location at the last minute.

•Insist on payment in cash or through a secure/proxy website such as PayPal.

•Do not invite strangers to your home to pick up an item, and do not go to theirs.

•Trust your instincts.