Today, May 21, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., the Dallas Police Department and OfferUp unveiled the city’s first Exchange Zone.  This Community MeetUp Spot is designed to create a safer space for buyers and sellers from online and mobile marketplaces to complete their transactions in a surveilled, well-lit, and monitored environment.

“This initiative has been in the works since December 2016, and has finally came to fruition,” stated Chief Hall during a press conference.  This initiative is meant to increase public awareness about the simple measures that can be taken to encourage safer in-person transactions.  OfferUp partnered with the DPD to install the Community MeetUp Spots which include signage and cameras.

In addition to signage and cameras, OfferUp provided additional training to detectives on best practices and available tools on how to work closely with OfferUp to detect and deter criminal activity stemming from online transactions. This program is free to law enforcement and combines the company’s efforts around safety and awareness.