Police offer safety tips for meeting with strangers to buy or sell items

The case of a Longmont woman who had her baby cut from her womb after responding to a Craigslist post offering baby clothes propelled the issue of online shopping safety back into the spotlight this week.

Pueblo Police say there are some things you can do to protect yourself when meeting with a stranger to exchange items sold or purchased online. The department offers the following advice:

Trust your instincts.
Don’t go alone.
Insist on meeting in a public place such as a police dept. parking lot.
Do not meet in a secluded area.
Do not invite strangers into your home and do not go into their home.
Be cautious when buying/selling high value items.
Perform all transactions during the daylight hours.
If it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.
Tell a friend or family member about your intentions.
Take your cell phone with you.