Kane's Convenience Store and Hi-Tech Security on Loch Lomond Road has been designated as a new "Safe Exchange Zone."
A safer way to buy and sell goods online is coming to Saint John, thanks to a new initiative by police.
Kanes Corner Convenience Store and Hi-Tech Security on Loch Lomond Road has been designated as a new “Safe Exchange Zone.”
The initiative aims to help decrease the number of incidents where a buy and trade situation online has gone bad for either the buyer or seller.
Const. Duane Squires with the Crime Reduction Team says they chose the spot for its high traffic location, good lighting, and “phenomenal” video surveillance.
“People are sometimes uneasy when you make a deal online, whether its Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji, and you’re going to meet someone that you have no idea who it is, or where you’re going to meet. Are you going to bring them to your house? Are you going to meet them at a ball field? Or maybe you could go to this location,” he said.
“We’re hoping people in our community use it and give you that peace of mind.”
Squires says while he doesn’t have the numbers on buy-and-sell exchange incidents gone awry, he has responded to a number of similar calls throughout his career.
He says if any other businesses want to join the initiative, they should contact him directly.
“We’re hoping that maybe other businesses are thinking ‘hey, we’ve got a good spot here too.’ Maybe somewhere on the west side or somewhere in the north end. They can also contact me and we can set up little spots and maybe market it that these are safe areas in different parts of the city that we have identified,” said Squires.
