Richmond Police are reminding residents about “Safe Exchange Zones” after several robberies at sales meetings.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Richmond Police are urging residents to use designated “Safe Exchange Zones” following recent robberies involving meetings to sell items.

The Safe Exchange Zones are located in the Richmond Police Department’s Second and Fourth Districts. These zones consist of two well-lit parking lots monitored 24/7 by security cameras, providing a safe environment for online transaction exchanges.

This reminder comes as the authorities do Searching for a suspect in a robbery last month. The suspect, who was wearing a gray sweatshirt, reportedly contacted the victim via social media to arrange to purchase an iPhone.

However, when meeting at the specified location, the suspect allegedly brandished a weapon and stole the phone.

Police released the following photos of the suspect in an attempt to identify him.

Police emphasize that this incident is not an isolated incident and are investigating similar robberies involving online transactions.

The visibility of these zones, including a billboard near I-95 South featuring the face of 23-year-old Joshua Gray, is a constant reminder of the potential dangers associated with sales meetings with strangers.

The Safe Exchange Zone initiative was launched in 2019 following the tragic death of Gray, who was shot during an attempted iPhone sale arranged via social media. Soon after, his family lobbied the Richmond Police Department to establish “Safe Exchange Zones.”

While Safe Exchange Zones provide a safe option, here are some additional security precautions recommended by the Richmond Police Department:

• Meet in a well-lit, public place of your choice.
• Do not carry out an exchange at your home or at the unknown person’s home.
• Carry out the exchange during the day.
• Avoid meeting strangers alone.
• Share your location with a trusted friend or family member.
• Trust your instincts: If something doesn’t feel right, cancel the meeting.

Anyone with information about the male suspect in the reported robbery is urged to contact Richmond Police.