Denton Police Debut Craigslist Safe Meeting Place

 DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Sealing the deal for online buying and selling on sites like Craigslist can bring anxiety for some.

How can you be certain a level of safety will be part of the deal?

The Denton Police Department has a plan to keep its residents safe.  It's turned its headquarters into a sanctuary site of sorts.

"We want people to feel comfortable with people they don't know," said Officer Orlando Hinojosa.

The entry hall to Denton PD, complete with all the signs, the cameras, the 24hr access, is the now designated "safe place" for Craigslist transactions, if residents want to use the office.

"I talked with my supervisor and said 'Lets do this.  It's great! Something positive for the community, and we want them to be safe. We don't anything to happen to them.'"

Residents believe the idea is true community policing.

"They're here to serve and protect, that's what they do," said Krum resident Rita Sprabary.

"I think it's a great idea also. I purchased something, they left it on the porch, I was uneasy going to their porch, when I drove in the area," said Cathy McDaniel of Sanger.

"If they're interested in purchasing on Craigslist, they have a place to do it, and the police dept is a safe place to do it," said Hinojosa.

Officer Hinojosa says he's heard of other departments doing this, but this may be a first for North Texas.