Renton, WA — The Renton Police Department is encouraging residents who buy or sell items through online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp to use the city’s designated Safe Exchange Location to complete transactions safely.
Police say the upper parking lot of Renton City Hall is officially designated as a Safe Exchange Zone, offering a well-lit, public area with 24-hour access and police presence. The location is intended to reduce the risk of fraud, theft, or violence during face-to-face transactions arranged online.
Authorities also shared important red flags for residents to watch for before agreeing to meet, including requests to move conversations off the platform, refusal to meet at a safe exchange location, pressure to meet urgently, unusual payment methods, or last-minute changes to meeting details. Additional warning signs at the meeting itself include unexpected extra people, aggressive behavior, or attempts to move to a secondary location.
Renton Police urge residents to pause, think, and put safety first when meeting someone from the internet, whether at City Hall or elsewhere. Using the Safe Exchange Location can help ensure transactions are completed in a secure and monitored environment.