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Sheriff's 'Swap Spots' Make Craigslist Exchanges Safer

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Going through a tough breakup and do not feel safe dividing up your property? Feel unsure about a Craigslist meeting? The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office wants to help.

A "Swap Spot" location was unveiled Wednesday in Brooklyn Park. It is one of three monitored spaces that deputies hope can become safe locations for exchanges.

WCCO caught a possible deal in the making in a Minnetonka parking lot. Potential buyer Stan Johnson drove two hours from Clarissa to check it out.

"On Craigslist, got to get out there right away, otherwise you're going to lose it," Johnson said.

He is checking out a 1929 Model A 4 seater. Gregg Hoogeveen is the seller.

"I work across the street and didn't want to meet at work so Target works, big parking lot and easy place to drive it," Hoogeveen said.

Now there is new public place -- several, actually -- to make an exchange.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek met with the public Wednesday to introduce these new, safe spots.

"They want to sell a boat, car, set of tires, cell phone -- it's a great place to be able to do it," Stanek said. "The way it works is you schedule the transaction and then show up to the Brooklyn Park sheriff's lot -- which is surrounded by cameras. And if you still do not feel safe, you can have a deputy come out and oversee the transaction."

The sheriff got the idea from some fellow sheriff's in Florida, and he says it can serve other purposes like a mutual place for a child swap.

"Two parents share custody and I get them for the weekend, just helps people feel a little safer," he said.

Whether it's precious goods or valuable ones, the sheriff says he thinks using the location will keep people on the straight and narrow.

"Makes it safe, it's monitored, everybody knows it's monitored," Hoogeveen said. "If somebody's not willing to meet you there then it's probably a shady deal that you just stay away from anyways."

As for this Model A swap, they could not quite make a deal. If you are interested, Hoogeveen is asking about $12,000 for the antique automobile.

Click here for more information on Swap Spots. Here are the locations:

Sheriff's Water Patrol
4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN

Enforcement Services Division
9401 83rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN

Public Safety Facility
401 S. 4th Ave., Minneapolis, MN

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