Grand Prairie (WBAP/KLIF News) – Grand Prairie police have partnered with an app developer on a project that will try to make online sales safer. Last year, police say 13 people in Grand Prairie were robbed trying to finish a deal they had made online.
The app, OfferUp, will give directions to one of three “safe exchange zones” set up in Grand Prairie. A safe exchange zone includes more frequent patrols and video surveillance.
“It goes that extra step, but what we’ve found is most cities have safe exchange zones, but the public doesn’t always know where they are,” says Chief Steve Dye.
Grand Prairie is the first to work with an app to publicize their location.
Dye says cities across North Texas have set up safe exchange zones, and Grand Prairie is now working with them to make those locations better known. He the city has also given OfferUp the addresses of safe exchange zones in neighboring cities.
“We all know this is going to be the trend of the future,” Dye says. “The online transaction of commerce is only going to increase and grow. We’re trying to get ahead of that.”
OfferUp plans to make maps of the locations available within 45 days.
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