The online exchange location consists of two designated parking spaces in the front parking lot of FPD’s building. The parking spaces are identified by green hash marks on the ground and a sign located on the fence adjacent to the space. This location is subject to being recorded 24 hours a day and is frequented by officers. Commonly, if a subject has bad intentions, he or she will avoid meeting at an area where officers are likely to be.
From Farmington Police:
Across the nation, crimes are committed on a daily basis to individuals who are attempting to buy or sell an item through an online site such as Craigslist. As of today, there have been 102 deaths related to Craigslist transactions alone. The Farmington Police Department is dedicated to providing a safe community to the citizens of Farmington. The department is proud to announce that beginning today, Monday, March 14, 2016, FPD will have an online sales exchange location available for Internet transactions. The exchange site is located in the front parking lot of FPD on the west side of the fenced area. The department encourages individuals who conduct transactions through online sites such as Craigslist, to utilize this area during the exchange of items.
The online exchange location consists of two designated parking spaces in the front parking lot of FPD’s building. The parking spaces are identified by green hash marks on the ground and a sign located on the fence adjacent to the space. This location is subject to being recorded 24 hours a day and is frequented by officers. Commonly, if a subject has bad intentions, he or she will avoid meeting at an area where officers are likely to be.
Anyone wishing to use the parking lot at FPD should be aware that while all transactions will be subject to video recording, police officers will not assist or witness the transactions. The Farmington Police Department would also like to emphasize that these videos are not monitored live. In the event that an officer is needed, please call dispatch at 505-334-6622 for non-emergency situations and 911 for emergencies.
When choosing to use the police department parking lot to conduct transactions, individuals should remember that under no circumstances may someone conduct a transaction involving the sale of any weapon or any illegal item.
The Farmington Police Department would like to remind individuals of the following safety tips while conducting online sales transactions:
- Don’t make a transaction alone
- Tell a third party you’re conducting a transaction
- Meet in a public place, such as the Farmington Police Department’s designated online sales exchange location
- Don’t go to someone’s home or invite them to your home
- Take cash or money orders for the transaction, but try to be discrete with the money
- Conduct the transaction during the daytime
For more information on safe trading practices, and for online transaction safety tips, visit safetradestations.com.