Safe Spots Have Arrived in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sheriffs in the Twin Cities area have set up spots where people can safely complete online trades.

The Star Tribune reports sheriff's offices in Hennepin and Anoka counties have recently joined other departments across the U.S. in providing places for people to make deals on camera and near police officers.

Anoka County has designated a spot for transactions in the parking lot of its sheriff's headquarters in Andover, and people can also use the lobby. Anoka County Sheriff's Cmdr. Paul Sommer says people have been using the parking lot to make deals for a while, but acted like "they don't want to be a bother."

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has set up safe zones in lobbies of its three buildings in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and Spring Lake.