Palatine police offering Internet Purchase Exchange Zone

The Palatine Police Department has created an "Internet Purchase Exchange Zone" to provide a safer venue for residents to exchange goods sold through online sites, such as Craigslist, Facebook and Offer Up.

A large sign designates a well-lit area on the west side of the main police station parking lot, 595 N. Hicks Road, that is under 24-hour video surveillance.

"We are pleased to provide our parking lot as an accessible area under constant surveillance for residents to complete transactions," Crime Prevention Officer Kellie Poliquin said. "A mutually agreed upon location, such as the police department, can minimize the risk of unsafe exchanges. We encourage residents to maintain their situational awareness when meeting strangers for sales transactions."

Safety tips for internet exchange transactions include: insist on meeting in a public area, such as the exchange zone; question the legitimacy of the transaction if someone is not willing to meet at the police department; inform a friend or family member of the transaction details and, if possible, bring someone with you for the exchange; do not go into someone else's house, nor allow them into yours; only use cash or money orders to complete transactions; always report problems to the service/social media site, and any criminal activity to the police; trust your instinct - if it sounds like a scam, it probably is.