CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police announced a partnership with QuikTrip to set up exchange zones for people who want to meet in a safe place to exchange items purchased online.
The safe zones were created just a few months after a beloved college baseball player was shot and killed in west Charlotte.
[PAST COVERAGE: Mother of slain baseball player: 'We are broken']
The program is meant for shoppers who make purchases on websites such as Craigslist. The exchange zones will be marked by two red parking spots at every QuikTrip to help people see where they are. There will also be 24-hour surveillance and periodic zone checks by officers.
Officers said about 40 people in Charlotte have reported being robbed while meeting strangers to make online purchases.
During the announcement, the mother of Zack Finch spoke about the program.
Finch, 21, was shot and killed in June while trying to buy a cellphone using the buying and selling app called LetGo. He was a student and baseball player at the University of Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Finch’s mother, Tara Finch, said she is grateful for CMPD’s effort to create safe exchange programs.
[RELATED: Third arrest made in slaying of popular college baseball player]
Police arrested 17-year-old Demonte McCain and two 15-year-olds in Finch's shooting death.
You can designate two parking spaces for the Exchange Zone Program at the following QT locations:
- 127 E. Woodlawn Road, Charlotte
- 6721 Albemarle Road, Charlotte
- 7205 The Plaza, Charlotte
- 2326 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte
- 11230 North Tryon Street, Charlotte
- 7115 South Blvd, Charlotte
- 3025 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte
- 116 Clanton Road, Charlotte
- 3206 Eastway Drive, Charlotte
- 5209 Central Avene, Charlotte
- 4937 Sunset Road, Charlotte
- 4200 Brookshire Blvd, Charlotte
- 5708 North Tryon Street Charlotte
- 10910 Golf Links Drive Charlotte
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