BILLINGS, Mont. – As the holiday season approaches, many people are shopping for gifts, whether from major retailers or local sellers online. And ensuring safe and secure transactions is crucial during this busy time.
Law enforcement in Billings has shared some valuable tips for those buying second-hand items through social media and utilizing local services.
Lieutenant Matt Lennick from the Billings Police Department advises potential buyers and sellers to take precautions. “If you’re not comfortable with someone coming to your house to pick something up, make arrangements and follow some real basic common-sense tactics,” Lennick said. He suggests meeting in well-lit areas with plenty of people, preferably where security footage is available. “Let someone know where you are going, just in case,” he added.
To support safe exchanges, the Billings Police Department partnered with Scheels to create the Internet Purchase Exchange on the West End. This location, monitored 24/7 with lights and camera surveillance, offers a secure environment for transactions.
Lennick mentioned that the department is considering additional exchange locations in the Heights or downtown if public demand increases. However, he noted that there have been no issues with local meetups so far.
For those concerned about package deliveries, the Billings Police Department’s Crime Prevention Center offers a safe place to receive holiday packages. Until January 3, residents can send their packages to the center at 2910 3rd Avenue North, where they will be held until pickup.
Jesus Ochoa, the BPD Crime Prevention Center Volunteer Coordinator, emphasized the importance of this service. “People aren’t always home, and this is the time of year when more and more deliveries get made to our homes,” Ochoa said. The center logs packages with the associated name and verifies identity at pickup, staying open until 6:00 p.m. for collections.
Ochoa encourages residents to utilize this service, stating, “The holiday season is upon us, when we often get taken advantage of by people, so in order to have a happy season for everyone, we are as safe as possible.”
#Secure #holiday #gifts #Billings #policebacked #exchange #sites #Billings #News
Leave a Reply