Stranger danger: Dayton police urge use of safe zones for online sales

There’s some great local deals on Facebook, Craigslist, eBay, LetGo and other online marketplaces.

But trouble also lurks online, and some offers that are too good to be true are part of criminal plots. Some people in Dayton who meet up to buy or sell items found online get robbed, sometimes violently.

The Dayton Police Department is urging the public to use its "Safe Exchange Zones" at all four of its patrol operations divisions. The safe zones give people a neutral and secure place to buy, sell and trade items after arranging a face-to-face meeting online.

“They make it a really easy, convenient exchange,” Dayton police Lt. Eric Sheldon said recently on Inside Dayton, the city’s public affairs program.

RELATED: How to sell on Craigslist safely: 5 things to know

Dayton police first launched the safe exchange program at two stations in late 2015, and since expanded it to all four stations. Still, some people are not utilizing the zones or taking other measures to arrange safe meetings.

The safe zones are clearly marked and located in well-lit areas outside of the police precincts, and they are open, always available and close to the highways and major streets, Sheldon said.

The safe exchange zones are located at 248 Salem Ave., 417 E. Helena St., 2721 Wayne Ave. and 951 Washington St.

There’s always risk involved in meeting strangers to engage in a business transaction, and some people are a little too trusting of others, Sheldon said.

Criminals have used the apps and websites to scam people or lure victims to unfamiliar places where they are robbed, he said.

RELATED: Craigslist exchanges can be made at police stations

In August, a 50-year-old man said he was robbed by two men in northwest Dayton after trying to buy a cell phone using the OfferUp app, a police report states. OfferUp is a mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers.

The victim told police he arranged a meeting to buy a phone from an online seller. The suspect met the victim at his car and pointed a black handgun at him.

Another suspect pointed a silver gun at the victim.

The men took $180 from the victim and demanded his phone.

But the victim said he noticed the guns were fake and drove off without surrendering his phone.

In September, a 28-year-old Dayton man was trying to sell his Playstation 4 using the app LetGO, a police report states. He met with a potential buyer in a parking lot near Brown Street.

The suspect said he wanted to test the gaming console so they went to the seller’s apartment. The man punched the victim, knocked him to the ground and ran off with his PlayStation.

Police tried to track the suspect using a K-9 but could not immediately locate him.

In November, police were dispatched to a school on the 3700 block of Lori Sue Avenue.

They spoke with a 37-year-old man who told police he arranged a meeting to sell his iPhone using the LetGO marketplace.

The victim said he was shoved to the ground by the suspect, who grabbed his bag containing the phone and ran off.

Also in November, a 31-year-old woman said she was robbed in West Dayton by someone she connected with on Facebook Marketplace, a police report states.

The woman said she met with the man to sell an Xbox gaming console. But she said the suspect tried to kick her and took her Xbox and games and ran.

In December, a Springfield man selling his Xbox in Dayton to a stranger from Facebook was given counterfeit money.

Earlier this month, a 36-year-old Hamilton man told police he was robbed in Dayton after trying to buy a Playstation.

After the man took out money from his wallet, the suspect pushed him, snatched the cash and ran.

MORE: West Carrollton sets up safe exchange zone for online sales

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