STAFF REPORT :::
The age of technology has certainly made life more convenient, but also more dangerous. Prompted by requests from the public, the Griffin Police Department (GPD) has been looking for ways to make online purchases and exchanges safer for citizens of Griffin. On Monday June 6, GPD took a huge step toward this goal by offering their parking lot as a meeting place for shoppers who have purchased online.
“We’ve had several citizens reach out to us on social media over the past few months about their desire for us to provide an online purchase and exchange zone,” said Griffin Police Lt. Darrell Dix. “The parking lot has always been well-covered by surveillance cameras and with the recent addition of a new pan, tilt, zoom camera which covers the medication disposal box, we figured it was a good time to add the purchase-exchange zone as well.”
Installing the sign was inspired by the nearly 100 police departments across the country that have already created safe zones.
“We saw how well these zones have been working in other places and decided it was time to create one here,” said Police Chief Mike Yates. “Our parking lot is already used as a safe zone for things like child custody exchanges, and it made sense to offer it as a safe place to exchange goods purchased online.”
In addition to multiple cameras covering the location, the zone is also strategically placed just feet from the entrance to the Police Department. Although the location is well lighted, secure and monitored by cameras, the department stresses that when making Internet exchanges, it is always important to make sure friends or family know where you are going, or to bring someone along with you.
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