As more and more people are buying holiday gifts through online websites like Craigslist, the Smyrna police department wants to make sure residents have a safe place to complete the transactions.
Officers are encouraging residents to use the police department’s parking lot, located at 400 Enon Springs Road East.
“If you’re going to do these types of transactions, don’t meet in a private parking lot,” said Sgt. Bobby Gibson, with the Smyrna Police Department. “Go where there are a lot of people. Our parking lot is a good location.”
Sgt. Gibson said the large lot is filled with officers, and heavily traveled during the day. It is also monitored by security cameras.
“In our dispatch center they have a whole wall of monitors that cover activity inside and outside of the center,” said Sgt. Gibson. “They can look up and see if there is anything going on.”
The parking lot is available 24 hours a day, and Smyrna police hope it will help ensure people stay safe.
Other Middle Tennessee police departments are also doing the same. Earlier this year, the city of Gallatin designated the parking lot just feet from the police department as a Transaction Safe Place. Officers in Mt. Juliet and Murfreesboro also encourage residents to use the police department parking lots to complete online transactions.
Sgt. Gibson also recommended people never go alone to meet a potential buyer or seller, always meet in a public place, be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and leave the area immediately if it doesn’t feel safe.
