New Jersey Police Set Up Safe Exchange Zone to Reduce Crime

📦Zone is available 24/7

📦Live without fear when using Facebook Marketplace, Craig's List

📦Recent crime spike in NYC area

WASHINGTON TWP. (Gloucester County) — Do you find yourself needing to recruit someone as a security escort before a meeting on Craig's List or Facebook Marketplace? Those days are over in Southern New Jersey.

A Safe Exchange Zone is now available at the Washington Township Police Department in Gloucester County.

The department created this area in response to the fraud and theft that can occur during such transactions, according to a post on the department's Facebook page. More than one security camera is aimed at the designated zone and is available 24/7.

The front parking zone is clearly marked: yellow stripes on the sidewalk with signs reading “Safe Exchange Zone”.

Users must stand within the striped area to be detected by the cameras.

Importance of a safe location

According to CBS New York and other media outlets, there has been an increase in Facebook Marketplace robberies in New York City this year.

According to CBS New York, in May the New York Police Department was searching for two suspects who allegedly posed as car salesmen but were actually robbing the person on the other end of the “sale.”

SEE ALSO: Short on cash? You could earn $300 as a poll worker in New Jersey

Officials recommend exchanging items during daylight hours if possible. If a purchase seems too good to be true, trust your first instinct.

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