Right now, Pauli is focused on selling a Budweiser neon sign. Lombard resident Kay Pauli said he always meets his Craigslist buyers in a public place, like a mall or a gas station. In Virginia Beach, Va., a program called "Find a Safe Place" allows such transactions in police station lobbies.
In Hartford, Conn., there's "Operation Safe Lot," in which online deals can be completed in a police parking lot. The page notes that the "overwhelming majority of Craigslist users are trustworthy and well-intentioned," and that violent crime is low.Įven so, the movement to make such transactions safer is gathering steam nationwide. But Craigslist features a personal safety page suggesting users meet in a public place, tell a family member where they are going and take a cellphone. No one from Craigslist could be reached for comment. He suggested residents use public lots, even the police station's, but said the department doesn't oversee sales transactions.
Edgar Gregory, deputy chief of the Joliet Police Department, said there are other locations available for safe transactions.