The Metropolitan Police Department announced today that District residents now have three safe spaces to buy and sell things from strangers. This comes amid a series of robberies associated with people meeting in person to pick up or hand off things that were placed for sale online.

The “exchange zones” will be located near the Third District station (1620 V Street, NW), the Sixth District station (5002 Hayes Street NE), and the Special Operations Division’s Harbor Patrol site (550 Water Street SW).

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a press conference this morning that detectives have made arrests in 28 robberies linked to transactions negotiated on sites like Craigslist.

Lanier also said in a release that the community must do their part by “safely buying, selling and trading online goods at our designated locations.” And MPD is reminding people that when conducting these transactions to never meet a stranger alone, not share your any of your personal information, and try to meet before the sun goes down.

Filed Under: craigslist, online goods, safe places, safe spaces,