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Amid uptick in robberies from online transactions, Mesquite police urge vigilance

The proportion of thefts linked to purchases set up online has jumped more than 10 percentage points in two years, police say.

Mesquite police are reporting a spike in the number of thefts related to sales arranged online and are urging residents to be careful when meeting in person to buy or sell items.

One of the easiest ways to stay safe, police say, is to insist on performing any transaction at the exchange zone in front of police headquarters at 777 N. Galloway Avenue. The proximity of the police station is a deterrent to crime, and the site is under 24-hour video surveillance.

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“Don’t become a victim of opportunity,” police Lt. Stephen Biggs said in a written statement. “Selling to strangers in a secluded area is a recipe for a robbery, assault or worse.”

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Biggs said about 5% of Mesquite’s robberies in 2018 happened during the exchange of items from a sale made online. In 2020, that number is 15%, he said.

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If you can’t meet at the exchange zone, meet in a public area during the day, police say.

Buyers or sellers also should consider bringing along a family member or friend to provide strength in numbers during the exchange — or at least text or call a friend before and after the exchange and consider putting them on speakerphone while making the transaction.

Police recommend using a payment app to complete the sale. If you’re paying in cash, bring only enough to cover the agreed-upon price of the item.

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Residents should trust their instincts and leave a situation that doesn’t seem safe, police say.

“We need our community to be aware of this crime trend,” Biggs said. “Parents need to have a talk with their kids about this subject. And we need our young adults not to be so cavalier with meeting strangers to exchange stuff.”