CHARLOTTE, NC — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says the “exchange zones” located at QuikTrip locations throughout the city have led to a decrease in robberies committed during transactions set up using online apps.
In November 2017, CMPD partnered with QuikTrip to create 14 designated areas where people could meet safely to conduct online transactions. Those exchange zones feature parking spaces at participating QT locations marked with red paint, 24-hour video surveillance monitoring and periodic checks by CMPD patrols.
An additional location has since been added, which brings the total number of exchange zones to 15.
Prior to the partnership, CMPD says they investigated at least 40 robberies in 2017 that were committed during online transactions set up through apps like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and LetGo. Since the exchange zones were established however, those crimes have reportedly decreased to just 34 in 2018 and 19 so far this year.
If you are conducting a transaction that was set up online, CMPD and QuikTrip encourage you to use an exchange zone found at one of the following locations:
- 127 E. Woodlawn Road
- 6721 Albemarle Road
- 7205 The Plaza
- 2326 Sandy Porter Road
- 11230 N. Tryon St.
- 7115 South Blvd.
- 3025 Wilkinson Blvd.
- 116 Clanton Road
- 3206 Eastway Drive
- 5209 Central Ave.
- 4937 Sunset Road
- 4200 Brookshire Blvd.
- 5708 N. Tryon St.
- 10910 Golf Links Drive
- 3701 Arco Corporate Drive
CMPD continues to offer the following tips for conducting online transactions:
- We encourage you to use these exchange zones but still want you to use caution and common sense.
- Meet during daylight hours and at a public place, where you expect other people to be around.
- Don’t go alone to meet a stranger. Bring someone with you.
- And if a deal seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.
