'Safe zones' created outside Melbourne police stations to reduce risks of online marketplace sales
A woman being dragged alongside a car while trying to sell an iPhone to a bogus buyer is among the incidents that have led to Victoria Police creating "safe zones" to facilitate sales arranged online.
Police have created the special zones outside 24-hour police stations with good CCTV coverage in Melbourne's north-east, where online buyers and sellers can exchange items with some security.
Victoria Police has worked with Darebin Council to set up the initiative, which will be trialled for several months, after having been popular in the US for years.
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Buyers and sellers are advised to meet up in daylight hours. Getty
It has come after a 26-year-old woman's arm was injured when she met with a man in the car park of a shopping centre on Plenty Road in Reservoir in March to sell an iPhone she had advertised on social media.
The woman walked up to the man's car, with him asking to inspect the phone while still inside his car, according to police.
When the woman handed the phone through the drivers side window the man began driving as she was still holding onto it.
The woman was dragged for approximately 10 metres before she let go of the phone.
In a similar incident, a 42-year-old man was stabbed and robbed after he arranged to meet another man at an Epping park to sell a phone he had advertised on social media.
When the met met, the man who claimed to be purchasing the phone grabbed the phone and pulled out a kitchen knife, according to police.
The seller followed the bogus buyer and tried to get the phone back before the pair got into a struggle, leading to the seller being stabbed in the arm.
Superintendent Sean Woods said police still advised people to consider who they met with to sell or buy an item.
"We still ask that people consider the risks of meeting someone they have never met before – if you decide to proceed with this method then we also advise to take some common sense safety measures such as meeting during daylight hours and taking someone with you," he said.
"If you are the unfortunate victim of a robbery, notify police as soon as possible so we can make sure we do our part and apprehend the offenders responsible."
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Police are warning buyers and sellers to still be careful about who they meet. Eddie Jim
Safe zones have been stablished outside the following police stations:
• Eltham Police Station
• Epping Police Station
• Greensborough Police Station
• Heidelberg Police Station
• Mernda Police Station
• Mill Park Police Station
• Northcote Police Station
• Preston Police Station
• Reservoir Police Station
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