Citing Craigslist Crime Study, Novi Police Open Lobby for Transactions

If you’ve ever thought of using the online classified site Craigslist to sell or trade items, but worry about your safety during the transaction, the Novi Police Department is taking away some of the anxiety.

In a news release, the police department urged residents to arrange for transactions in its parking lot or front lobby. Both locations are monitored throughout the day, both by staff and security cameras, and the areas are well-lit in the evenings.

Conducting transactions in a safe, open location is recommended as a standard safeguard for residents and businesses buying and selling over the Internet, the police police department. Providing a home address to unknown persons or completing transactions in an unfamiliar area escalates safety concerns.

The police department said a 2010 study linked Craiglist, which at the time had about 50 million users, to 330 crimes, including 12 murders and 105 robberies or assaults in the United States.

“Craigslist is only a facilitator of commerce … and can’t be held responsible for what happens amongst its users,” the police department said.

The police department said items can’t be stored at public facilities, but if they can be safely transported, “meeting in the police department parking lot helps to reduce any potential danger to the seller or the seller’s family and property.”

Additional safety tips for those conducting a transaction with an unknown buyer include the following:

• Only accept cash or a cashier’s check for sale. Personal checks carry some risk.
• Conduct sales during weekdays so banking or financial institutions can be contacted if there is a problem.
• Don’t go alone and trust your instincts.