Safe Exchange Zones
If you set up a purchase or sale arrangement through Kijiji, Craigslist, or newspaper ad, the next question that comes up is how to physically complete the transaction. A person may be reluctant to have a stranger come to their residence or to meet at an uncontrolled site somewhere. This is where a safe exchange zone comes into play.
I initially became aware of this idea from The Western Wheel out of Okotoks, which carried a story about a Safe Exchange Zone set up for in-person transactions in High River. What is a safe exchange zone? Basically, it is a well-lit, camera-recorded site where individuals unknown to each other can complete a buy and sell transaction in a safe place.
A 2022 CBC story stated, “These neutral zones are intended to prevent fraudulent transactions as well as physical attacks that may occur in the context of purchases or sales on popular online sites”.
The CBC article also included a reference to “Ottawa police charging a man with fraud, theft and possession of stolen property after he allegedly posted an online ad to sell a vehicle, only to flee with a prospective buyer’s money after they met in person.”
Since the location of the safe exchange zone in High River is in the High River RCMP parking lot, I reached out to Const. Kaler at the High River RCMP detachment to determine how this came about. The initiative for setting this up was a collaboration between the town of High River and the RCMP.
There are a few critical components required for a safe exchange zone. One requirement is a camera to record events.
The town of High River paid for a camera to be installed at the detachment. The second component is a well-lit area which existed at the RCMP detachment, and the third is a sign designating the area as a safe exchange zone. The sign in High River is a metal sign attached to a post, but the Ontario Provincial Police and Gatineau Police use brightly painted parking stalls.
It should be noted that a safe exchange zone is not monitored by the RCMP or any other person. However, the camera provides a record of the exchange including a time stamp of the transaction and the physical actions of the transactors.
A second very valuable use for these safe exchange zones is that of child custody exchanges. The safe transaction zone is especially useful where the parents are not necessarily on good terms with each other. The timing and actions of the parents during the child exchange are recorded in case there is a dispute.
Another good use of these sites is that of personal sales of firearms. I am aware of a case where the purchase and sale of a collector firearm was completed online. The seller was located in central Alberta and the buyer in southern Alberta. They agreed to meet in the middle. But this type of transaction has some additional complications over normal goods’ transactions. Passersby may notice a firearm being transferred, a significant amount of cash being transferred, and the fact that there is a person with a firearm in the open in the community.
Both the buyer and seller could be targets – the seller because he now has a bunch of cash, the buyer because he now has a firearm. Two things criminals like to have. A third complication is that someone may report an individual in the community with a firearm. The safe exchange zone can provide a safe place for the transaction. The police would like to be alerted to this type of transaction taking place in their parking lot so please call ahead and let them know what you are planning to do.
The CBC article also includes the following advice. “Whether or not you choose to use one of the many safe exchange zones in the region, police say you should remember the following tips when meeting a buyer or seller:
- Meet in a busy public place.
- Conduct transactions during daylight hours.
- Bring a trusted friend or family member as a witness.
- Keep all records of the transaction including emails, texts and voicemails.
- Beware of any last-minute changes in time or location.
- If possible, check the seller’s vendor rating or see if they’ve been flagged by other buyers.
- Check the item you’re buying to make sure it’s as advertised.
- And remember — if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
As a final thing to note, while not actively monitoring the Safe Exchange Zone, Const. Kaler has seen people using the site at least three or four times over the last few weeks.
Dave Schroeder
HCRCWA Board Member
