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