Police Credit 'Exchange Zones' In Reduction Of Robberies

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte area police are seeing a decrease in robberies related to online classifieds and ecommerce apps, and say its due to the creation of monitored “exchange zones” at area convenience stores.

Charlotte police launched the partnership in late 2017 following the murder of a 21-year-old Charlotte man who was shot to death while attempting to purchase a cell phone he found for sale on an ecommerce app.

As part of the "exchange zones" partnership, area QuikTrip locations will have two parking spaces marked red for easy visibility as a meeting spot. The parking spaces will be monitored with 24-hour surveillance security video and will be periodically checked by CMPD officers.

According to department data, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department investigated at least 40 robberies during transactions set up using online apps such as LetGo, OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace in 2017.

“Since creating the exchange zones and working to educate the community, the number of cases has decreased to 34 in 2018 and 19 so far this year,” CMPD said in a statement Wednesday.

According to SafeTrade, an online program aimed at improving the safe exchange from internet classifieds, 119 people have been murdered in the last 10 years while attempting a commercial transaction initiated through Craigslist.

RELATED: Charlotte Police, QuickTrip Partner For 'Exchange Zones'

Here are tips from CMPD regarding online classified transactions:

• We encourage you to use these exchange zones but still want you to use caution and common sense.
• Meet during daylight hours and at a public place, where you expect other people to be around.
• Don’t go alone to meet a stranger. Bring someone with you.
• And if a deal seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.

There are currently 15 “exchange zones” in the Charlotte area:

• 127 E. Woodlawn Road
• 6721 Albemarle Road
• 7205 The Plaza
• 2326 Sandy Porter Road
• 11230 N. Tryon St.
• 7115 South Blvd.
• 3025 Wilkinson Blvd.
• 116 Clanton Road
• 3206 Eastway Drive
• 5209 Central Ave.
• 4937 Sunset Road
• 4200 Brookshire Blvd.
• 5708 N. Tryon St.
• 10910 Golf Links Drive
• 3701 Arco Corporate Drive

What do you think about exchange zones? Tell us about it in the comment section!