McCandless police launch 'safe exchange zone'

McCandless has joined the list of western Pennsylvania communities offering a safe place for buyers and sellers who use Craigslist or other Internet sites to make their exchanges.

Two parking spaces outside the entrance to the town's police department along Grubbs Road have been set aside with a sign marked “Safe Exchange Zone.”

The area is monitored around-the-clock by security cameras.

Officials noted that while the transactions are observed by officers, they will not serve as witnesses or “validate the legitimacy of any transaction, item for sale or the integrity or legality of a sale,” according to the announcement posted on the town's website.

In June, Ross designated a pair of marked parking spots outside the police station along Municipal Drive for Internet exchanges and for people involved in child custody exchanges.

Last year, Cranberry set up a similar system after learning that residents were already using the police station parking as an exchange zone.

Other local communities that have created safe exchange zones include South Fayette, O'Hara and Peters in Washington County.

Authorities warn that while the areas set aside for exchanges are outside police stations and monitored by video, people should still use caution when meeting a stranger or if they have concerns about a custody exchange.

During the past several years, law enforcement agencies around the country have set up safe exchange zones in response to the growing number of incidents involving people being robbed, assaulted and even killed after meeting strangers to buy or sell items listed on public bulletin boards.

One such case occurred in May 2015 when a 19-year-old college student was shot to death in a St. Louis, Mo., suburb after meeting a man who wanted to buy the sports car he listed for sale on Craigslist.

Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-772-6368 or tlarussa@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TonyLaRussaTrib.