Cop Swap

If there is one thing we know about this Christmas and holiday season upcoming, it's that it is going to be an odd one...

We won't see shoppers thronging the malls and doing the traditional shopping. There will be a lot of mail order and online shopping, and a lot of this new way, with people on the neighborhood websites such as NextDoor.com and Neighborhood.com and WhoTheHellAreAllThesePeopleAnyway.com. People are saying, hey, I bought my son a PS347 last year and suddenly all he wants to do is read books. (It could happen!)

So you're stuck with this video game thang that's just collecting dust and you put a picture of it on WhoWantsIt.com and the next thing you know, you're supposed to meet "Keith from Kankakee" to swap your unused toy for his money.

You don't want "Keith" in your house, for sure, and you're not even sure you want him coming to your front porch. What do you do? What DO you DO?

If you live in stylish Baltimore County, Maryland, you have this option. Our Police Department has set up "safe areas" where people can meet up with strangers with whom they are selling or buying this, that, and the next thing.

The Police press release puts it this way: "As the number of online purchases and sales of goods quickly increase, so do the potential risks associated with these transactions when they involve meeting a stranger. In an effort to keep citizens safe, the Baltimore County Police Department encourages anyone who makes an online purchase that involves an in-person interaction to use our police facilities."

Clearly, the thinking is, if "Keith" is planning to rip you off, he will balk at being asked to meet at the parking lot of any of these locations:

Wilkens Precinct (1): 901 Walker Avenue Catonsville 21228

Woodlawn Precinct (2): 6424 Windsor Mill Road  21207

Franklin Precinct (3): 606 Nicodemus Road Reisterstown 21136

Pikesville Precinct (4): 215 Milford Mill Road  21208

Towson Precinct (6): 115 W. Susquehanna Avenue 21204

Cockeysville Precinct (7): 111 Wight Avenue  21030

Parkville Precinct (8): 8532 Old Harford Road  21234

White Marsh Precinct (9): 8220 Perry Hall Boulevard 21236

Essex Precinct (11): 216 N. Marlyn Avenue 21221

Dundalk Precinct (12): 428 Westham Way 21224

Public Safety Building: 700 East Joppa Road Towson 21286

Randallstown Substation: 9113 Liberty Road  21133

The police encourage you to meet "Keith" during daylight hours. I mean, common sense, all right?