WILMINGTON — As technology continues to progress, the way people interact with each other continues to change as well. Not long ago, websites like Craigslist and Facebook changed the way people buy and sell items to each other; previously, if one wanted to buy someone else’s items they would have to go to a garage sale or consignment shop.
Now, thanks to technology, finding that perfect secondhand item is as easy as turning on a phone – but along with this progress comes new opportunity for would-be criminals. Groups like Wilmington Yard Sales, which can be found on Facebook, bring together nearly 60,000 people to buy, sell, and trade items.
From a new avenue to sell stolen goods to opportunities to lure unexpecting buyers or sellers into a potentially violent situation leading to robberies or assault, crime is changing, but so are police tactics.
The police are obviously tasked with protecting the public, but there are also things online marketplace users can do to help ensure their own safety.
Wilmington Police Department’s Crime Prevention Specialist Edward Pompey offered residents tips to stay safe while buying and selling items online.
One of the first things potential buyers or sellers can do when conducting an online transaction is to do some research on the person on the other side of the transaction. Searching for the person on a website like Facebook to see any previous transactions or possible reviews of the seller are a good place to start, Pompey said.
Pompey also suggests always meeting in a public location when conducting any sort of sale if possible, and to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, 9 out of 10 times it is.
Common sense and caution can go a long way and prevent the possibility of becoming the victim of a crime, getting as much information on a buyer or seller including phone numbers can be useful, he said.
Spokesperson for the Wilmington Police Department Jennifer Dandron said the police department has had to change its tactics when it comes to policing as the popularity of online marketplaces continues to grow, including the monitoring of online sales pages.
“As technology evolves, we must evolve with it, which is why we monitor online sales and pages,” Dandron said.
Wilmington Police also encourage residents to reach out to them if they suspect an item to be stolen, and for residents to keep track of items like gaming systems and other electronics that might have serial numbers to aid in tracking stolen property.
Sent comments and tips to Michael Praats at [email protected]
