WESTLOCK — Have you agreed to purchase or sell something online, but are uncertain about the person you’re dealing with and are afraid of being robbed, or perhaps having your property cased by a potential intruder?
You would probably choose a public place to make such an exchange, but the Westlock RCMP are offering another option: a “safe exchange zone” set up on the south side of the detachment building.
The zone is marked by a sign in the detachment's parking lot, and while it isn't specifically monitored by the detachment or surveillance cameras, RCMP officers will be nearby if there is a call for assistance.
"These safe exchange zones will provide a safer place for citizens to safely meet while making sales, purchases and exchanges, including custody and visitation arrangements," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Sehn of the Westlock RCMP, in a release.
As noted in the release, the Westlock RCMP is actually among 22 detachments within the Alberta RCMP's Eastern Alberta district that are setting up these safe exchange zones.
Residents need not contact the detachment prior to using the site; they simply need to advise the person that the meeting should occur at the safe exchange zone.
In an interview, Sehn said he himself meets purchasers at the detachment when he has to sell something online. “It just gives me that little added extra bit of safety and probably discourages people looking to commit crimes," he added.
While meeting during the day is obviously preferred, Sehn said these zones are available 24 hours a day if needed.
It's worth noting that the Athabasca RCMP set up its own safe exchange zone in front of the detachment building in 2023, while the Barrhead and Area Regional Crime Coalition (BARCC) collaborated with Freson Bros. to set up a safe exchange zone in the grocery store's parking lot back in 2020.
-with files from Cole Brennan and Barry Kerton
