Ottawa police set up ‘safe-trade zones’ for person-to-person sales

Published Sep 30, 2023 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 2 minute read

The safe trade zone at Ottawa police headquarters on Elgin Street Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

Ottawa police have set up three “safe-trading zones” to provide a level of security for people engaged in personal web shopping and trading.

A growing number of police services have created this sort of protected zone for person-to-person online marketing.

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“Websites are often used as tools to sell property and can present a personal safety risk due to the high volume of thefts and robberies that can occur during these transactions,” the Ottawa Police Service said in a news release.

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“Creating Safe Trade parking spaces at OPS stations is about moving transactions away from secluded parking lots or private residences and bringing them into public places.”

The Safe Trade spots in Ottawa are clearly marked by signage and a blue handshake logo painted on the pavement to help participants identify where to conduct safe exchanges.

Safe Trade locations at OPS facilities are located at:

• 466 Metcalfe St. (visitors’ parking lot behind the police station at 474 Elgin St.)

• 211 Huntmar Dr. (Kanata police station)

• 3343 St-Joseph Blvd. (Orléans police station)

Police also repeated some safety tips for those buying or selling items:

• Do not invite the other party to your home to complete the trade;

• When meeting for the trade, bring a friend and meet in a public place with extensive lighting and video surveillance, like a shopping mall, but preferably a Safe Trade spot at a police station;

• Meet during daylight hours. Any last-minute changes to the location should be considered red flags. Police recommend you walk away from those exchanges rather than going to a second location;

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• Avoid vacant parking lots or properties when you meet with the other party.

Police note that the safe trade zones are not monitored 24/7. They also cautioned that the Ottawa Police Service does not assume any responsibility for transactions or mediate the use of its premises for this purpose.

Gatineau police created two “neutral zones” for online sales last December. Both are in parking lots near police stations: at 590 Gréber Blvd. in the Gatineau sector and at 777 de la Carrière Blvd. in the Hull sector.