Blackfalds has designated a safe ‘exchange zone’ for private sales transactions.
Exchange zones provide a way for the public to exchange goods without needing to provide personal information or have strangers come to your home address, said Ken Morrison, the town’s emergency management and protective services manager.
The Blackfalds exchange zone consists of two designated parking stalls and is located in the parking lot in front of the Protective Services building at 4405 South Street.
RCMP Sgt. Brent Dueck said this location was chosen because it has cameras and other security measures and the building is staffed 24 hours a day.
The idea of establishing an exchange zone was brought by community members to the town’s peace officers and the Blackfalds Policing Committee.
Morrison added that the City of Edmonton implemented exchange zones in March of 2020 as there were increased online purchases being made. Often these have led to crime.
Edmonton Protective Services had made 77 arrests and laid 218 charges relating to the face-to-face buying and selling of online items, noted Morrison.
As a result, communities all over Alberta are adopting exchange zones to increase safety for residents who make private sales transactions, he added.