Features In Oak Forest To Know About: Safety Zone For Exchanges

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest residents can relax a bit knowing they can now deal with their online purchases without fear. The Oak Forest Police Department, 15440 Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL, has created an internet purchase exchange zone in the parking lot and lobby of their station.

Although this feature has been around for a few years, many in the area were unaware of it. The purchase exchange is under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the village website.

Online transactions impose fear and have an added risk of something going wrong, according to the village. Since the potential buyer or seller will know the exact location of the potential victim, malicious intents could be carried out. With this system in place, residents are able to relax a bit knowing they are being watched.

The lobby is open 24 hours a day and is used for smaller purchases and the parking lot is used for larger ones like cars, according to the village.

Police department personnel will not be overseeing the transaction, or meet with participants, according to the village. Personnel will come to see what is going on if a call for service comes about.

The village said if residents are interested in this form of an exchange, they are encouraged to call the non-emergency police number ahead of time, so they are aware it is taking place. The non-emergency number is 708-687-1376.

Is there something in Oak Forest that you think more people should be aware of? Let Patch know!