The Lower Saucon Township Police Department is continuing its tradition of being adaptive to developments in technology and following national safety trends with the establishment of a surveilled zone where local residents can meet to conclude Internet purchases such as Craigslist transactions, make child custody exchanges and conduct other types of meetings that could prove harmful under certain circumstances.

Photo courtesy of Lower Saucon Township Police Department

The decision to create the citizen meeting/exchange location outside the police department headquarters at 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, follows a national trend among police departments, the police department explained in a statement about it.

“Like other police departments in the nation, the (Lower Saucon Township) Police Department saw a need to offer citizens a safe place to make these types of exchanges,” it said.

The exchange zone is located on the west side of the police department building where there are now two designated parking spaces that can be used a meeting and exchange point.

“The area is well-lit and available for use 24 hours a day,” the police department said. “The area is covered by surveillance cameras that are recorded; however, the area is not monitored or staffed by officers, and (the department) encourages everyone to still be cautious when meeting any person that they do not know.”

Police further cautioned that “if a person is unwilling to meet you at the police department to conduct a transaction, that should make you highly suspicious of their intentions.”