If you’ve ever bought or sold anything on Craigslist than you know the exchange of items can sometimes be tricky.
From going to a new place, giving out your home address, or meeting someone you don’t know, Falls Township residents now have a safer option when doing business through Craigslist or other similar web marketplaces.
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Falls police announced last Thursday that they will now be allowing residents to trade items in the township’s municipal and police department parking lot on Lincoln Highway.
The location, centrally and conveniently located in the township, is well-lit and under 24-hour surveillance, making those in the township feel safer knowing they can exchange goods without feeling uneasy.
Locally, not many towns offer a safe place for Craigslist exchanges.
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Bristol Borough police Chief Arnold Porter said the department parking lot is well lit and has security cameras, but he would not consider it “an official Craigslist transaction location.” He noted that “estranged couples with children have made custody exchanges in our parking lot” in the past.
In Bristol Township, the police station is often used as a safe environment for people to make exchanges, Acting Chief Sgt. Ralph Johnson said. Like Porter, he said parents who are separated use the station for the exchange of custody. “I’ve never heard of people making Craigslist exchanges here, but we would not object to being a ‘safe spot’ for people who preferred to make an exchange in a safe environment,” he said.
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While a service similar to what Falls offers is not currently available in Middletown, Chief Joseph Bartorilla said he would consider something similar.
“Since our station isn’t manned by a desk officer, we do not offer that service,” Penndel Chief Joseph Sciscio said.
In Montgomery County, Conshohocken Borough is offering a similar service for residents.
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The announcement came after a man was charged in connection with the death of a Georgia couple who disappeared after responding to a car for sale post on Craigslist.
