Halton police launch buy and sell exchange zone

Halton police have launched the region’s first buy and sell exchange zone.

The zone is located in the visitor parking lot at the Halton police 20 Division facility at 95 Oak Walk Dr.

Police say the exchange zone was created after many residents became victims of crimes like robberies, frauds and thefts while attempting to buy or sell property online.

“The purpose of the Buy & Sell Exchange Zone is to provide some additional peace of mind to those who are buying, selling, or trading property online,” said police in a news release. “If you are meeting new people while finalizing online transactions, we encourage you to use our Exchange Zone.”

Halton police say residents who cannot use the exchange zone should complete their transactions in well-lit, public, and popular locations to avoid being a victim of crime.

The service has also offered the following tips to help protect yourself:

• Complete your transaction during daytime hours only.
• Use the buddy system when possible. Bring a family or friend with you, or at the very least, let someone know who you will be meeting, the time, and the location of the exchange.
• To reduce the potential of falling victim to fraud, never complete a buy and sell transaction by mail.
• When meeting in person, always inspect goods you wish to purchase before giving money to the seller.
• Limit the amount of personal information you provide.
• Stop. Pause. Think. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is.