Bedford PD: Use Internet Transaction Safe Zone For Purchases

BEDFORD, MA — With the holiday season in full swing and online gift orders in, Bedford police are reminding residents to be safe if they're picking up online orders in person, and to use the designated safe internet transaction location at the Bedford police station.

The Bedford Police Department designated a safe and secure meeting place for residents to meet strangers and complete online transactions on websites like Craigslist in late 2016. Since then, residents looking to safely complete such transactions have had the opportunity to do so in a marked area of the Bedford Police Station lobby at 2 Mudge Way.

The Bedford Police Station is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and covered by security cameras.

“We want to ensure that residents can safely complete their holiday shopping, and offering this transaction space provides security to those shopping online on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and so on,” Chief Bongiorno said. “If you need a safe place to meet a stranger to buy or sell an item from an online transaction, we encourage you to take advantage of this resource.”

Bedford Police have also increased patrols at local shopping destinations this December, including marked police cruisers and a mix of uniformed and plainclothes officers, in an effort to prevent crime and deter shoplifting throughout the holiday season.