Timmins Police create an area for people to make safe exchanges of things they buy online
The Timmins Police Service is welcoming people to conduct their online 'buy and sell' business in front of the Timmins Police Station.
Soon, a sign will be put up to show people where to park. It's a spot where police say people can feel safe as the exchanges will be captured on surveillance cameras.
“I believe every officer at this point has dealt with some sort of instance of fraud though either Kijji or buy and sell. It’s just the way the technology has evolved over time and this is the new crime and we need to stay on top of it in this manner," said Constable Joseph Depatie.
This gives one local man some relief. Barry Gutcher said when he saw a similar service was offered in North Bay, he suggested it to Timmins Police.
“I thought it was a good idea cause you can meet anybody on the internet, right, and you know, a safe place where people can meet to exchange things as opposed to your home-- it gives you your privacy.”
Officials said many people locally have been defrauded of money or goods and they want to prevent that.
“With the advent of COVID, people have entertained the idea of purchasing pets and the puppy fraud is very prominent in the Timmins area. The exact number of persons who’ve been defrauded is tough to determine because not all frauds are reported to the police,but nonetheless this is a common aspect of fraud.”
Depatie said people don't have to wait for the sign to be put up as the surveillance cameras are already working and the duty officer inside is also keeping an eye on the area.
He added that no appointment is necessary to conduct any exchanges and if anyone runs into any problems, the police are close by to help.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.