Hartford Police Offer Safe Zone for Craigslist Transactions

The Hartford Police Department is now making its public parking lot available as a safe place for people to make Craigslist transactions.

Residents can use the lot as a "safe zone" 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a "safe zone," Deputy Chief Brian Foley said.

"Craigslist transactions that have turned into robberies and/or violent encounters have become a nationwide trend and a problem for police departments across the country," Foley said in a news release.

"As we have painfully seen here in Hartford, these types of incidents have had great potential for violence," Foley added, alluding to the December armed robbery of a man trying to sell tires through Craigslist.

The announcement comes the same day Manchester police arrested a second suspect in a laptop robbery that occurred during a Craigslist transaction.

Last month, West Hartford police arrested a local resident suspected of robbing another man who tried to sell his iPhone through Craigslist.

"Safe zones" are also a national trend due to a string of Craigslist-related crimes, the "Today" show reported.

Foley offered the following tips for safety when it comes to Craigslist transactions:

  1. Arrange to meet at a public place like the Hartford Police Department.
  2. Bring someone with you and don't go by yourself.
  3. "Trust your instincts."
  4. Meet in a public place rather than a secluded area.
  5. Don't meet with a stranger at your home or theirs.
  6. Take particular caution if you're buying or selling something that's highly valuable.
  7. Conduct the transaction during the day.
  8. Something is normally too good to be true if it seems like it is.
  9. Let you're family or a friend know about your plans
  10. Bring your cell phone with you.
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