A new community exchange zone is now setup at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, providing a monitored space to exchange goods or custody of children. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DROP OFF, PICK UP

New exchange zone in Nanaimo allows for safer marketplace meetups

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NANAIMO — Those concerned about visiting a strangers house to collect goods purchased online now have another option.

The new community exchange zone located at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment on Prideaux St. is an area monitored by video surveillance and designed to be used in a variety of circumstances.

“We know that a lot of people run into problems selling goods online and also sometimes with custodial disputes where children are being exchanged,” Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

O’Brien noted officers have seen custody exchanges of children at the detachment for years and expect to see more exchanges of goods bought on Craigslist, Marketplace or other sites in the near future.

“We’ve had situations where people were involved with custodial disputes and then it came to us and there’s no record of it because there’s no video surveillance.”

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The exchange zone is marked by a large blue sign at a parking stall out front of the Nanaimo detachment, with officers available inside should they be required.

The RCMP detachment in Campbell River launched a similar initiative in August.

While the zone is covered by video cameras, RCMP said no audio is recorded and they’re not classifying it as a “safe” zone.

“We can’t guarantee the safety of it but we can certainly guarantee that there’s going to be a written record and it’s safer than other areas that people have been going to to do these exchanges,” O’Brien said.

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