Arlington Police Launch Safe Zone For Online Exchanges

ARLINGTON, MA – The Arlington Police Department has partnered with online marketplace OfferUp to designate a safe meet up spot for vendors and buyers to complete online exchanges safely. The safe zone will be located in the lobby of the police station at 112 Mystic St.

"Online marketplaces have become a popular way for people to buy and sell goods, but these platforms can also pose a danger if the buyer or seller is a criminal seeking to take advantage of the situation, or if the sale goes badly," Acting Chief Julie Flaherty said in a statement. "By opening our lobby as a meet up location, we hope residents feel safe as they complete these transactions."

By using the police station to meet up, residents can avoid the risk of meeting at home or sharing an address with a stranger.

"Our ability to partner with the Arlington Police Department allows us to bring a collective and focused effort and investment to the well-being of this community by improving the security of in-person transactions," said Natalie Angelillo, vice president of Community at OfferUp. "Our MeetUp Spots program helps serve the much needed purpose of providing an easy and free way to establish a community location that is public, surveilled, well lit, and monitored by the police department. OfferUp is proud to have a partner in Arlington to support our commitment to building trust in communities throughout the country."

OfferUp is a mobile marketplace that allows users to snap a picture of products from their mobile device. The privately held company is based in Bellevue, Washington, and backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Warburg Pincus, GGV Capital, Altimeter Capital and Allen & Company.

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