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Polk County Sheriff’s Office offering spot for safe exchanges

COLUMBUS—As online purchases become more popular, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is offering a safe meeting place for people to exchange items. 

The parking lot at the sheriff’s office, located off Highway 108 in Columbus, now has a designated spot to exchange items. 

There are signs and two spaces now specifically designated as a “meet up spot” where people can safely exchange items. 

The spots are located in the front parking lot at 164 Government Complex Drive in Columbus. 

Sheriff officials said the sign was donated for the parking lot by the online marketplace OfferUp about 18 months ago. 

Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright said he was happy to accept the sign to mark a safe location for Internet purchases because of the steady increases over the past few years. 

The sheriff’s office parking lot is under 24-hour video surveillance and provides a safe location for property and child custody exchanges around the clock, sheriff’s office officials said. 

Sheriff Wright encourages everyone to practice safety when shopping online to avoid fraud, deceit and theft, particularly during the holiday season.