Cherry Hill Police Establish Safe Zones for Craigslist Sales

The Cherry Hill Police Department has established a series of designated safe zones where residents can complete sales and purchases through Craiglist and similar bartering/swapping websites, Cherry Hill Police Chief Bud Monaghan announced on Thursday.

These safe zones are designed to increase the safety of online purchases by giving members of the public a highly visible location in which to complete the transactions at all times.

Two locations have been established in and around the Township Municipal Building at 820 Mercer Street.

One safe zone is in the police headquarters lobby, which is accessible 24 hours a day from the front entrance on Mercer Street. The second safe zone is located in the “horseshoe” of parking spots in the back lot at town hall.

Both locations are clearly marked with bright yellow “Safe Transaction Signs” that make them easily identifiable, and both sites are continuously monitored by surveillance cameras. However, Monaghan said police officers will not participate in or witness transactions nor will they guarantee the quality or authenticity of items purchased.

Transactions involving weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or any other illegal activity are not permitted in these zones.

Last year, a Willingboro man was charged in connection with an armed robbery of a Cherry Hill man who responded to a Craigslist ad offering a new iPhone 5, as well as a similar robbery at the Moorestown Mall in which he allegedly robbed a Gibbsboro man at knifepoint.

A Willow Grove, PA, man has been charged with the murder of a Williamstown man after the man answered a Craigslist ad for a dirtbike.

“Online forums have become a popular means to buy and sell items,” Monaghan said. “However, interactions of this nature are also prime targets for robbery, thefts and scams. We encourage residents to use caution when conducting online sales, always meet in a public location, and remember: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Residents with questions or concerns can contact CRO Houlihan at 856-488-7813 or via e-mail at rhoulihan@cherryhillpolice.com.

The attached images were provided by the Cherry Hill Police Department