The Town of Chaplin is excited to announce that it has established a “Safe Exchange Zone“at the Town Hall where residents can complete online purchase transactions and make child custodial exchanges. The "Safe Exchange Zone" was created to address safety concerns for patrons involved with online purchases from websites such as Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, and classified ads as well as to provide a safe location for families with visitation rights to make custodial exchanges.

The” Safe Exchange Zone”, which is located in the main visitor parking lot on the northeast side of the Town Hall on Phoenixville Road, is well lit and under continuous video surveillance. The designated exchange area consists of two clearly marked parking spaces adjacent to Town Hall where buyers, sellers and families can meet and make exchanges. The marked area is under 24-hour video surveillance which is recorded by state of the art high-definition security cameras.

While the “Safe Exchange Zone” provides a safe area for buyers and sellers to meet, it is important to remember that people you meet online are strangers and can pose dangers. When making arrangements to complete online transactions face-to-face, residents are reminded to:

-Complete all transactions during daylight hours, if possible

-Bring a cell phone in case of emergency

-Notify friends or family about the details of the exchange beforehand

-Never invite strangers to your home or agree to meet at a stranger’s home

-Reconsider any transaction with an individual who refuses to meet at a “Safe Exchange Zone” such as our own

-Town Hall employees may not be asked to act as witnesses or to be a part of these transactions in any capacity.