By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
When it comes to buying items from Craigslist or other online sites, the location for the exchange of money can be one of the most critical decisions.
One of the biggest mistakes law enforcement professionals witness are individuals using their home as a meeting location for the sales to take place.
Early this year, an Orion Township man was robbed after thieves pulled out a gun and made off with a laptop.
This fear of getting scammed, robbed, or swindled has lead police agencies all over the country to offer their stations as safe havens for those buying or selling items.
The Lake Orion Police Department is the newest law enforcement agency to offer their police headquarters as a safer alternative to using one’s home.
Police Chief Jerry Narsh says the decision to offer the village police station as a meeting place was a long time coming but an obvious decision, especially with law enforcement seeing an uptick in Craigslist transactions going awry. The Lake Orion police station is at 21 E. Church St.
“There’s just a whole bunch of things associated with Craigslist and online sales that scare people, and hopefully it’ll create one less police report,” Narsh said.
“It just makes sense, it works well, it’s a much safer place than exposing your home, and we always have cops coming and going,” he said.
Narsh added that beyond meeting at a safer location, those involved in a Craigslist transaction, or other online purchase sites, should follow a few simple steps to drastically increase their safety.
Both Chief Narsh and Craigslist recommend having a friend accompany a person to either buy or sell an item. People should always carry a cell phone, and never disclose personal information that could be traced back to the person’s home.
It is also suggested to also avoid making purchases from sellers who are overseas. Wiring money and purchasing goods without seeing items can create a liability for the buyer, because Craigslist does not have a regulating agent to insure items are delivered.
Ultimately, a public place is preferred when picking up an item, however, some circumstances make it hard to do so, like when purchasing large furniture or looking into subleasing a home.
When selling these large items from home, do not allow prospective buyers to come inside. If possible, move the items into an open garage, front porch or apartment hallway.
“If you have to have someone come to your house, protect it at all costs, so bring it to the driveway, the road, or the garage,” Narsh said.
“If you can tell neighbors and friends about the transaction, it helps to have them with you, and it’s safer.”
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Substation, located at 2525 Joslyn Rd., is also deemed a safe meeting place for Craigslist transactions.
Orion’s Substation Commander Lt. Dan Toth says that during the last 7-10 years, sheriff’s deputies have seen robberies of banks and stores with AV surveillance go down, while crimes of this caliber have seen a significant increase.